by A. Gorman
“You know it, soldier,” she says with her eyes still closed. “Please, I need you,” she begs.
Spreading her legs apart with my knee, I feel can feel the pre-cum seeping from my cock. Jesus, I’m not gonna last long. Pushing through her wetness, my cock finds that spot that makes her yell my name as I fill her with my release. Pulling out so I can feel the high as I enter her again, I feel my release building up.
“Fuck me,” I groan as I start pumping faster. “Love this pussy, sweets. So Goddamn good,” I moan. Pulling out, I roll over and slide her on top of me. “Ride me,” I order. And she does just as I ask. She wastes no time, gliding up and down on my cock, and I feel my balls tighten. I’m holding back as much as I can, I know she has got hers already, but hell I know she can get a few more. “Faster,” I grunt as my hands dig into her hips. I watch her as she gets her high. I love making her come. Stilling her as I fill her with my release, she collapses on top of me.
“Good morning to you too.”
“Morning, babe. I have therapy soon.” I only have a few weeks left. I hope that soon I’ll be able to walk without my damn walker. It’s only been a little over two months, but I am so ready to walk on my own.
“Coffee,” she groans. I start to get up and she pushes me back down. “You stay put, I’ll get it.”
I watch as she gets up, her fine ass bouncing as she walks. I smile, knowing that lovely woman is mine, all mine.
* * *
I hate crowds and my sister knows I do, so I have no clue why she wanted us to attend this party. She has invited a lot of people that we knew back in high school. It’s weird, because I don’t remember a lot of them. They speak, and I have to think really hard about who the hell they are. I wasn’t popular in school like she was. Miss social butterfly is what dad always called her. I watch everyone around me laugh and talk, and my mind drifts off to my high school prom.
“Come on let’s get out of here, I reserved a room at the Hilton,” I say in between kisses.
“Oh God, are you for real?” Amelia asks excitedly.
“Yes, I told you this night would be perfect, nothing but the best for you.” I’d been saving my allowance for months. I’d also saved every penny from my summer job at Dad’s dealership. I’d detailed and cleaned over five thousand cars last summer.
“Let’s go, I need to tell Winter I am leaving or she’ll be looking for us.” She starts to walk away.
“She already knows, I told her earlier.”
“What? She didn’t tell me. I’m glad she didn’t though. This is by far the best surprise ever.” She kisses me “Let’s go, handsome.”
I shake my head and see that Reese is staring at me. She mouths, “You okay?” I nod letting her know I am good. I pick up the orange solo cup and down the alcohol. Since I’ve been with Reese, a lot of the Amelia memories and flashbacks don’t come as much, but when they do I still feel that ache in my heart. I still wonder what she would be like now. If she would have really stayed with me, stuck by my side through all this, or if she would have bailed as soon as she got sight of me. Standing up, I feel a little light-headed and sit back down. Reese is next to me by the time I have my eyes open.
“What’s wrong? You look pale.”
“I think I am hungry is all.” I have been drinking all evening and haven’t ate much.
“I’ll get you some water. Have you eaten anything since lunch?”
“Nah, I haven’t now that I think of it. I also took a few of the pain-killers. So that could be the issue. I hate to be a party pooper, but would it be okay if we took off?”
“We can go. We’ll stop and pick up a pizza on the way home. Would that be okay,” she asks as she helps me stand.
“That’d be perfect. I’ll let Winter know we’re leaving,” I say, sliding my walker toward the huge Care Bear in the center of the room. Yeah, my sister had an 80s themed Halloween party.
“Hey you okay,” she asks as her arm goes around my waist.
“Yeah, a little tired so we’re going to take off.”
“Thank you for coming, it means a lot to me.”
“Of course, we need to hang out more.”
“I was just telling Dax that earlier. He’ll be here soon. He had a late flight.”
“Tell him to stop over before he leaves, it’ll be good to see him.”
“I will. We’ll have to do dinner. I love you, be careful,” she says, hugging me.
“Love you,” I say before turning to Reese. “You ready, sweets?”
“I am, thanks for having us over, Winter.”
“Girl, you’re welcome anytime. Are we still on for mani’s and pedi’s Sunday?”
“Yes, you know I need one.” She laughs. “I’ll call you.”
We make our way to the car, and Reese helps me in. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need me to call the doctor,” she asks as she slides in the driver seat.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I really think I’m just hungry and tired is all. I need to get this prosthetic off though, my nub feels swollen. They said it was fine when I was at therapy.”
“We can have pizza delivered. I’ll call now so it’s there when we get there.” She puts the car back in park and makes the call.
* * *
I wash all the junk off my face, before pulling my costume off. I slide my prosthesis off; unrolling the compression sleeve that’s stuck to my skin, I see that my nub is red and irritated. Shit, I had a feeling things were going to good. “Reese,” I yell. “Come here, babe,” I yell again. She comes running in the bedroom.
“What’s wrong,” she asks then sees my leg. “Hell, it’s infected. I’ll get your chair. I need to get you to the hospital. I’ll let Tina know incase she wants to go.”
“Okay,” I say as I feel my knee throbbing. Flashbacks of that night come to mind.
“Stay down, Reese,” I cry. “I can’t lose you too.”
“Talon, please, you’ve been hit. I need to see if you’re okay.”
“Reese, don’t move, they’re going to kill you,” I beg to her not to move.
“Talon, baby, I’m fine. You’re the one that was shot, not me, now roll over. Please.”
“They’re going to hurt you, please stay down.”
“Livingston, I am fine. I need to check on you,” she cries.
“Is he okay?” I hear Dax’s voice.
“No, he’s been hit. His lower extremity.”
“I’ll call his sister.” I hear him say.
“Help me turn him over, we need to see where he was hit.”
“Talon, your mom is going to go with us. You’re so pale. Here, put this washrag on your head.” I have kind of felt like shit all day, but I have never felt this way before.
“Water, can you get me water,” I ask.
“Yes, come on, I’ll need your help getting you in your chair.”
“I’m not feeling to well, babe. All my energy is gone.”
“Shit, the pizza is here.”
“I have it. Oh, sweetheart, you look awful,” my mom chimes in. “Let’s get you to the ER.”
“Well thanks, Mom, I just...” Is all I get out, before I start losing all the liquids I consumed today.
Chapter Nine
November 6, 2010
V.A. Hospital
St. Louis, MO
I’ve been lying in this bed for days now. Seems like I had an infection and it set up in my body. I had to have intravenous antibiotics for the last seven days. I do feel a hell of a lot better than I did when they brought me here. Reese has stayed as much as she could, but she had some appointments she couldn’t cancel. She will be back later tonight, but I miss her like crazy. I hate that I have to lie here in this fucking bed. Picking up the glass of water on the tray that’s in front of me, I throw it as hard as I can across the room.
“Now what did that cup do to you,” Melissa, the nurse who’s been here since I have, asks.
“I’m ready to go home. Have they said if the infection is gone?
My stump looks much better.”
“Well, Mr. Grumpy Pants, you do get to go home today. But...you can’t wear your prosthetic for a few weeks. Give your stump time to heal.”
“I just want to go home and be with my woman. No offense, you’ve been really nice, but this bed is harder than the ones I slept on in Iraq.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that a time or two. Are you having any pain? You haven’t had any pain meds since last night.”
“Just in my ass, from this bed,” I complain.
“Well, let’s go for a walk, shall we?” She scoots the wheelchair closer to the bed.
“I’d love to walk, but I will settle for a spin around the beautiful facility.”
“Quite the smarty pants today, aren’t we? Look, I know you’re miserable. I want to show you something, you up for it?”
“I have no other place to be.”
“Then let’s roll, Talon.” She pushes me through the door. “I want to take you up to the fourth floor. I’ve worked here for about ten years now, and I have seen so much worse than what you’re going through,” she says as we enter the elevator.
“I know I’ve seen worse,” I whisper.
“What’s that,” she quips.
I clear my throat. “I have seen worse. Don’t forget I served our country for five years. I watched many of my men die.” I leave out the part about Amelia.
“See this room? That’s where Randall a Navy SEAL is. His arms and legs were blown off in a bombing. Next door there is Susan, she lost both legs and one arm when her Humvee was targeted. She was the only survivor.” She pushes me to another room. “That man in there? His name is Jack, and he lost both his eyes and one ear.”
“Okay, Nurse Downer, I get it. I need to go back to my room.”
“I can keep going,” she says bitterly.
“No,” I bite out. “I need to lie down.”
“Okay, sir. I’ll take you back to your room.”
I’ve been so fucking selfish, I never thought about others who have it way worse than I do. I have always had it rough, and I just never imagined that it could get any worse than losing a limb. I feel the tears welling in my eyes. I have no clue who I am anymore. When you grow up the way I did, and see and get treated a certain way, you shut people out, and that’s what I did. But I got a second chance with my parents, and Reese opened my eyes about a lot of things. She showed me that I can love, when I thought I couldn’t. She showed me that I am worthy of being loved, when I thought I wasn’t.
* * *
“Hey, handsome, are you ready to go home,” Reese asks, entering the room. I’ve already gotten dressed and I’m sitting in the recliner, flipping through the channels on the TV.
“God, I am so happy to see you.” I go to stand and realize that I don’t have a leg to stand on. “Shit, I forgot.” Falling back into the chair.”
“Soon, baby. Soon, you’ll be able to walk. You’ve already packed up everything,” she asks, looking around the room.
“Yeah, I am ready to go.” Just as she starts to help me in the wheelchair, my favorite nurse walks in.
“Mr. Livingston,” she greets me. “You’re all discharged. I’ll send one of assistants to walk y’all down stairs.”
“Thank you,” I say reaching my hand out to her. “You opened my eyes today. It meant a lot that, although I was an ass, you did that. I needed that visual and I’m glad that you put me in my place.”
“Just showing you around this place. I wanted you to see that your injuries are mild compared to some of the other soldiers. We have group sessions here every Friday, the two of you should attend a few. I’ve heard that it helps the healing process.”
“Thank you for all of your help, we will think about those meetings for sure,” Reese says, hugging Melissa.
“Let’s get you two out of here.” She bends down wrapping her arms around me, she whispers, “Remember, there is always someone worse than you.”
“I see that now,” I say.
“You okay,” Reese asks.
“No, but I will be.” I pull her onto my lap. “Thank you for showing me what was in front of me all along.”
“You’re welcome, soldier. Let’s get home.”
Chapter Ten
November 30, 2010
Chesterfield, MO
Talon
I watch as she prances around the kitchen. Today is the day. The day that she, becomes my wife. It’s moved pretty quickly, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. She is the reason I wake up every morning. I just received my new leg yesterday and, so far, it fits perfectly, and I can walk almost as perfect as I could before my amputation. A lot has changed since I left the VA in St. Louis. My eyes have been opened a lot, and I now see things in a different perspective.
Today I am going to stand and marry my best friend, my lover, and my soulmate. No one could ever get me the way she does. Our ceremony will be small, just our folks, Winter and Dax. I wouldn’t want it any other way. The ones we love will surround us.
* * *
Reese
Today is the day. I am so freaking nervous. I have loved Talon for the last five years. I’ve always admired the man he is. The night of the accident, I thought I’d lost him. Then when I knew he was going to be okay, I thought the he had mentally checked out on me. I knew I had to be strong for the both of us. They rushed him in for emergency surgery, and I fell to my knees praying that God would save him and not take him from me.
I was in love with Markus, but as quickly as I fell in love with him, I fell out of love with him. Him breaking off our engagement just proved what I had known all along, it wasn’t meant to be. I was made for someone else and that man was right in front of me. I’ve helped him become the man I knew he was. The man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, the man he has always been, but didn’t see.
Today, I become Mrs. Talon Benjamin Livingston.
The End…
Just kidding, there will be more of Reese and Talon in Reese’s story. Coming early 2017.
About the Author
Delisa Lynn grew up in Columbus Ohio, she is currently residing in Western New York with her husband and fur daughter Sophie. During the day she works as a Medical Assistant and at night, she types away on her laptop, allowing her characters to escape her mind. Pink is her favorite color, and she loves anything animal print. She loves traveling, shopping and baking. When Delisa isn’t working or writing you can catch her snuggled up with her kindle reading about her newest book boyfriend.
https://www.amazon.com/Delisa-Lynn/e/B00HNE4Q3I
Dear Justin.
Today I have loved you for forty-two days, five hours and six minutes. You might ask how it’s possible for me to be so specific but it’s a simple answer. I remember the exact moment I fell off the cliff of reason and into this insanity. On July 3rd at 1:40 P.M. in front of Carly’s Custard, you, Justin Taylor Weber walked up to me and said hello.
That was the end of me and the beginning of us.
x Piper
Chapter One
Caden
DEATH FOLLOWS me home. My companions—Gus, an albino German Shepherd who found me in West Virginia—and a ghost I once knew and loved as my brother. A man far better than me, a friend, a SEAL, a fiancé, and a soon-to-be father. For twelve years we fought side by side until a bullet and the good Lord decided it was his time to raise hell behind the pearly gates. I can’t say I’ve made peace with it, even though he’s in my head telling me he has.
A promise brought me here. Guilt destroyed me on the way. Responsibility lies heavy on my shoulders, and traveling from D.C. to the Oregon coast gave me plenty of time to prepare for grief stronger than my own. Three thousand miles to think about what to say, what to do, how to become someone Piper Stevens needs more than broken promises and hollow consolation. ‘I’m sorry’ means shit. ‘I’m sorry’ is nothing but an empty phrase that does nothing but bring forth the memory of what’s missing—who is missing. Justin is not coming back. N
ot to be my friend or her husband. Or a father to the baby she’s weeks away from delivering.
After all of this time on the road, I have no plan. I’ve only decided facing Piper is more daunting than the Taliban. Bullets I can handle, but Jesus, tears gut me.
I moan and grip my hair, as if I can pull reality from my thoughts. The move disrupts Gus just enough for him to lift his head and stare at me with his black eyes. He looks, head tilted, like he can see through me, and even though I’m the biggest asshole I know, he’s found some shred of salvation and absolves me of my sins. I grab his nape and hang on to soft fur and life, enjoying the last miles of freedom.
Dusk crawls into the cab in lazy yellow and orange ribbons, softening the peeling dash of my ’57 Chevy. As if inviting me home, the rays bring the salty scent of the sea and fish and childhood memories follow. I like the ocean. For all of its pent up energy and the rage it sometimes personifies, crashing surf has a whole lot of calming inclinations. When my dad bailed on the family, I’d spend my mornings lying on the shore listening to waves speak their language. I never quite understood what it wanted me to hear, but when I walked away I always felt lighter than I did when I first sat down.
The water and my family aren’t the only things I’ve missed about Lilyfalls. Nestled along the rocky coast of the Pacific, it’s just big enough to have one of everything. A bar and a grocery store, a drive-through and a diner, a laundromat and a church where the permanent residents pray the summer part-timers don’t ruin the quaint traditions.
I hit the outskirts of city limits just before nightfall. Not much has changed in fifteen years but for the number of mansions lining the beach and a bakery on the corner of Main and Third. My mouth waters for home-cooked meals before my stomach sours. My mother will skin my tail for not calling ahead, and then there’s my sister. I flinch. Dear God, Cara’s worse than tears. She’ll wield the fucking knife to disembowel me like the elk she shot when we were ten. That woman can handle a rifle as well as any man I’ve served with. And she’s not afraid to use it. For the moment I ignore thoughts of my family and focus on the cottages just north of town.