Rediscovering Peace (Military Love Book 1)

by Rogers, Steffy

  Skye and I had been dating when our dads where both stationed in Germany. The moment I first saw her I knew she would change my life forever. It was the same minute I realized I knew I was in trouble. But I liked trouble, especially in the form of a five foot six redhead spitfire. With time, I learned that she was not only the most gorgeous girl I had ever laid eyes on but she also had a heart of gold. Skye had put me in the friend zone at first, but I fought every day to make my way out and into her heart. It took me three long months to convince her that we would be great together. I had been the happiest guy alive when she finally decided to go out with me. Of course, we had spent every waking hour with each other before but when we finally dated I didn’t ever want to let her go.

  We spent two years together in Germany and were inseparable. I had planned on asking her to marry me. I knew we were young. She had been seventeen when we started dating and just turned nineteen. We had just spent a weekend at a lake in Germany to celebrate. Even though I was only twenty-one, I was sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Skye. I told my parents of my plans and after my mom approved of the ring I had bought, I asked Skye’s dad to meet for dinner one day. Pete Donovan loved me as if I was his own son, but still, asking him for his blessing to marry his daughter was the scariest thing I had ever done. I almost shit my pants and I couldn’t say a word the whole time we were sitting at dinner. Finally, Pete broke the silence.

  “Are you going to ask for my blessing to marry my daughter or are you just going to sit there and stare at your food and remain silent?” he laughed at me.

  I instantly calmed down. “Sir, I love Skye more than life itself. I want to spend the rest of my life worshipping her. May I please ask your blessing to marry your daughter? I promise to take care of her and always put her first.”

  “Son, I don’t think there’s anyone out there that I trust more than you. I know you will make my princess happy. Yes, you have my blessing, son. But if you hurt her–I will kill you.”

  We spent the rest of the evening talking sports and after he approved of the ring all I had to worry about was how to ask Skye.

  When I got home that night I saw the worried look on my parents face as I walked to my room. What the hell? I found Skye sitting on my bed sobbing uncontrollably. What had happened?

  “Skye baby, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

  “Braden, I can’t do this anymore. I think it’s better if we don’t see each other anymore.”

  No, this couldn’t be happening. I was about to propose to her. How could she say this?

  “Baby, you don’t mean that. I love you and I can’t breathe without you. Please don’t do this to us!”

  “Don’t you understand? I am leaving. Dad is getting stationed to Hawaii. The distance would kill us.”

  “Then don’t go. You can stay here with us. My parents wouldn’t mind.”

  “I can’t let my parents leave without me, Parker, and you know that.”

  Oh hell she was using my last name and she only ever did that when she was mad or upset with me. There was only one way to turn this conversation around. I got down on one knee and took out the ring I had bought for her.

  “What are you doing, Braden?”

  “Skye, please don’t leave me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to wake up to you every morning and I want to watch your belly grow with our children. Please, Skye, will you marry me?”

  She didn’t say anything and just kept crying till she finally found her voice. She kneeled on the floor with me and took my face in her hands.

  “Braden James Parker, a part of me will always love you. The last two years have been amazing and I will never find a man like you again. But I can’t marry you. We are too young. I don’t want you to wake up one day and regret rushing into this.”

  She kissed my cheek and got up. I felt my heart break into a million pieces as the only girl I would ever love walked out of my life.

  All that didn’t matter anymore we were back together, and I would prove to her that our love was worth fighting for. I wrapped my arms around Skye and finally fell into a peaceful slumber. This must be what heaven feels like.

  “Braden! Wake up!” I woke up to Skye shaking me and noticed I was covered in sweat. Oh shit.

  “Mhm...” I grumbled.

  “Holy hell, Braden. You scared the shit out of me. You were thrashing around and screaming. What the hell were you dreaming about?”

  I remembered my nightmare very clearly but I couldn’t tell her – it would scare her away.

  “I don’t remember.” I could tell by the look on her face that she didn’t believe me, and I was sure I would catch hell for it.

  “You have always been a terrible liar, Braden James. If you don’t want to talk about it that’s fine but don’t lie to me. Remember, I need you to be honest with me.”

  “Really it’s nothing, baby, just a bad dream.” I hadn’t had any nightmares in a while thanks to the counseling I had to attend. Why did they have to come back tonight? I couldn’t tell her about the images that haunted me day in and day out. I didn’t want to put those images in her beautiful head. It was enough for me having to bear them. They were a constant reminder that I failed and made it out alive when my two best friends didn’t. I had to live with that burden and I’d be damned if I would put it on Skye to deal with my demons. I just got her back. I didn’t want to lose her again.

  Skye laid back down, and I pulled her to me needing her to be close to me. She was trailing her fingers up and down my naked chest and hell if her touch didn’t burn holes in my body. I couldn’t believe how one simple touch could turn me on so much, and I had to adjust my hard on before she noticed it. It was too early in our relationship, and I wanted to make our first time back together special again.

  “You know you can talk to me about anything right?” Skye interrupted my thoughts.

  “I know, baby. I just don’t want to burden you. I can handle it, I promise.”

  “How could you possibly think you would burden me? I want to know everything about you–the good and the bad. Isn’t that what a relationship is about? You know my story – it’s only fair that I know yours. However, I won’t pressure you. When you’re ready to open up I will be here. Always.”

  “Thank you, princess. I promise I will try to let you in. Please give me time, okay? Now let’s get back to sleep, we both have to work in the morning.”

  “Goodnight, Braden.”

  “Goodnight, my love.”

  We both fell back asleep and luckily, I didn’t have another nightmare. I got up the next morning careful not to wake Skye yet, and I went into the kitchen to start up the coffee maker. It was too damn early to be up already. I would much rather stay in bed with Skye all day. Just thinking about her lying in my bed made me hard again. That girl would be the death of me. I still couldn’t believe she was finally mine. I almost thought that day would never come. Oliver had broken her and as much as I hated him for it, I was almost thankful that he did or I wouldn’t have that beautiful girl back in my arms. I grabbed two mugs out of the cabinet and poured the coffee. I added some sugar and creamer for Skye’s and made my way back to the bedroom.

  “Wake up, beautiful, I brought you coffee.”

  “I don’t want to. What time is it?” Skye grumbled half asleep as she forced herself to sit up and take the mug out of my head.

  “It’s 5:30. I have to be at work in forty-five minutes but I didn’t want to leave without saying good morning to my favorite girl in the world,” I said as I kissed her cheeks.

  “You are forgiven, but only because you brought me the holy yumminess that is coffee.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. Skye had never been a morning person. Neither had I but being in the army I had to get used to the early mornings. I couldn’t wait for the weekend though, I planned on hibernating with Skye and not leave the bedroom unless it was to eat. Why was it only Tuesday? This was going to be a long week.

 
“Do you want to go out to dinner tonight? You know, a date.”

  “I would love to but I promised my parents I would go over for dinner tonight. They haven’t seen me in two weeks and they are starting to worry.”

  “Okay, baby, I will be here when you get home.”

  “Unless you want to come with me?” Skye asked.

  “Are you sure? You don’t think it’s too soon to tell them about your new boyfriend?” I was mocking her. I had already made my decision.

  “Technically, you are not a new boyfriend. They already know you. Plus, I can’t wait to see their faces when they see you. They know nothing about you being back in my life.”

  Oh this was going to be fun. Anna and Pete Donovan were in for surprise. I just hoped they still loved me.

  “It’s a date then. Call me when you get off work and I will pick you up. Now I have to get in the shower or I will be late for work.”

  “Have a good day at work, handsome. I’ll be thinking about you.” Skye got up and I swear she swayed her hips more than usual walking out of my room. Before she could get through the door I pulled her back and kissed her roughly. If I didn’t have to be at work I would take her against the wall right now.

  “Stop swaying your hips like that or I will have to punish you, sweetheart.”

  I felt her squirming in my arms and knew I had her where I wanted her. I was sure she would be thinking about me all day now. I let go of her and watched her walk over to her room. I would never tire of looking at her. She was the most beautiful girl in the world and she didn’t even know it. Loving Skye was easy. Yup, I was in deep.

  I couldn’t concentrate at work and barely made it through PT. I was constantly thinking about Skye and how we were finally back together. I was planning on taking her away this weekend to spend some alone time. After all these years apart we could use some time alone.

  “SSG Parker, what else do you want us to do?” one of my soldiers interrupted my thoughts.

  I had made them clean up the barracks hallways after finding them in a terrible mess. I hated punishing them but it was my job.

  “PVT Johnson, get everyone in formation. I think we are going to go out and do some shooting training.”

  Shooting training was one of the most important trainings for soldiers. I wanted my guys to have their A game when it came to their gun. It would be crucial in a life threatening situation. Knowing your gun could be what keeps you alive when faced with the enemy. They had to be prepared. I knew their deployment was coming up eventually and though I would love to spare them I knew it was out of my hands.

  We made it through shooting training and after all my guys scored one hundred points on all their targets, I released them an hour early. I was eager to get home myself and prepare for the evening ahead. Even though I knew Skye’s parents, I was still a bit nervous. What if they were mad at me for not fighting for Skye all these years ago? That was bullshit. I needed to stop driving myself crazy. Pete and Anna weren’t like that.

  I heard my phone go off with a text and quickly grabbed it.

  Skye: Hey handsome. I am getting off early. Pick me up in 30 minutes. I already let my parents know we would be early.

  Me: We? You told them we would be early?

  Skye: Yes. But I didn’t tell them who I was bringing ;)

  Me: Haha ok. See you in 30 minutes love. Xoxo

  I quickly changed into some jeans, cowboy boots and a black button up shirt. I knew how much that drove Skye crazy–it always had.

  I got to Skye’s work just in time for her to exit the office building. I got out of the car and waited for her to walk to my car. God she was gorgeous. Her fitted skirt was hugging every curve and her white blouse was buttoned up just enough to show a hint of cleavage. I could feel my jeans getting tighter and wanted to push up her skirt and take her on the hood of my car. Cats. I need to think about cats. I had no idea how I was going to make it through dinner with her looking like this.

  “See something you like? You look like you’re about to eat me up.” Skye laughed at me.

  “Keep laughing at me and I will bend you over my knee and spank you.”

  “Don’t threaten me with a good time, soldier.” She winked at me.

  Fucking hell. Who was that woman and what did she do to my sweet innocent Skye? I opened the passenger door and helped her in the car but not without slapping her ass.

  “This is just a taste of your punishment if you keep it up, sweetheart. I really don’t want to sit at dinner with your parents with a hard on but thanks to your sexy, sassy mouth that’ll be nearly impossible.”

  Her smile grew wider and the lust in her eyes showed me that she wasn’t unaffected by our little exchange either. Screw taking it slow, I was going to have her this weekend. No way could I wait any longer to be buried inside of her.

  We drove to the other side of town and followed a dirt road that led us to a modern ranch style house. Leave it to Pete to live out in the country. He had always hated the city so I wasn’t surprised to find that he settled on an old farm.

  “The house is beautiful. And look at all that land. I love it out here.”

  “I know. Dad wanted to be out in the country and have lots of land. Of course Mom has to be close to the city so they finally agreed to buy this piece of land. It’s huge. They have three horses but other than that the land is unoccupied and Dad loves to shoot out here. Of course, you can take the man out of the army but you can never take the army out of the man.”

  We walked up to the house and as Skye rang the doorbell, I pulled her close to me and put my arms around her hips. I wanted her parents to know that we were back together.

  “Hey, sweetie. OH MY GOD! Is that you, Braden?” Anna squealed and held her arms open. I let Skye go and gave her mom a hug. “I can’t believe it’s really you. And how handsome you are. Not that you haven’t always been handsome. But you know. How did you find us? PETE! You won’t believe who’s here!”

  Anna gestured for us to follow her into the house and we were led into the dining room where Pete was sitting engrossed in his newspaper. He looked up and when he saw me his eyes got wide.

  “If that isn’t Braden James Parker himself. Come here, son.”

  He gave me an awkward man hug and whispered so nobody but me could hear him, “I am glad you’re back, son.”

  I don’t know why I was nervous to begin with. The Donovan’s welcomed me back into the family as if I had never been gone. They asked me what I had done the last eight years and I could see the pride in Pete’s face when he heard I joined the army a year after they left.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t told me that Braden was here, Skye Taylor! Why would you keep that from us?” Anna was scolding Skye.

  “Mom, Braden came back into my life right when everything happened with Oliver. I am sorry I didn’t want to hear you bugging me about me getting back together with Braden. I know that’s exactly what you would’ve done if I had told you he was in town,” Skye explained to her mom.

  “But you guys are back together now, right?” Anna asked expectantly.

  “Yes, Mom. Braden is kind of stubborn and doesn’t listen to the word “no” very well. Like that was a surprise. Do you remember how every Tuesday for three months he would declare his feelings for me before we started dating the first time? Yeah not much has changed since then.” Skye smiled at me. I was surprised she still remembered that. When she had put me into the friend zone the first time I decided to tell her once a week how much she meant to me until she would finally give in and give us a chance. Every Tuesday I would do something different. I would take her to carnivals, lakes, to the movies, out to dinner or simply buy her flowers. Finally one Tuesday after I told her it was the last time I would tell her about my feelings she kissed me and ended my misery.

  “He has always been a romantic soul. I am so glad you’re here, Braden. How are your parents? Where do they live now?”

  “Dad lives here in Savannah. That’s why I am
stationed here so I can take care of him. Mom passed away three years ago. Cancer.”

  “Oh my. I am so sorry! If you ever need help with your old man you let us know. It will be good to see him again. I hate that we lost touch all those years ago.”

  “I’m sure he would like that. He needs to get out and see people again. Mom’s death changed him and he worries me.”

  “Bring him over next time you guys come for dinner,” Pete offered. Dad and Pete had been really good friends and were in the same unit together. I had always wondered why they didn’t stay in contact. I knew military life was hard and back then the internet wasn’t as far as it was nowadays. Maybe bringing Dad around would help him breathe again.

  After a few hours, Skye and I said our goodbyes and I couldn’t wait to get her home and in my bed. I wasn’t going to have sex with her yet but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun with her.

  Thirty minutes later, we opened the door to our apartment. Luckily, no one was home and we would be undisturbed for a little while. I picked her up and carried her to her room. We would have to figure out whose room we would be using in the future. There was no need to keep two.

  I slowly let her slide down my body so she could feel my growing erection. I wanted her to know the effect she had on me. I brushed my lips over hers and a moan escaped her. I gently bit her lip before sliding my tongue in her mouth and pouring my love for her in the kiss. She ran her hands through my hair and brought me closer to her. I could feel the hunger and need in her kiss. When I could barely catch my breath anymore I pulled back and looked into her deep blue eyes. I swear she could’ve captured my soul with those eyes of hers. It was the first thing I had noticed about her when I saw her walking around school on the base our parents were stationed at.