Rediscovering Peace (Military Love Book 1)

by Rogers, Steffy

  “Hey, girlfriend. How are you?” She greets me while sitting down in the chair across from me.

  “I am great. Just super busy with this damn vodka campaign. How about you? I thought things slowed down at work and I would get to see you more now?” I asked her.

  “Yeah they are slow. But I’ve been spending a lot of time with Jordan.”

  Wait Jordan? This wasn’t what I had expected. I knew he was her “fuck buddy” as she likes to call him but she never spent that much time with him before. She must have seen the questioning look on my face because she starts laughing.

  “I can see the wheels turning in your head. Well... The other night I went to Jordan to, you know, release some steam. He sat me down and told me he couldn’t just be my fuck buddy anymore. He said he was feeling more for me. I was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to say. But then I thought about it and thought I’d give it a shot. Jordan’s a nice guy and he’s amazing in bed.”

  “So you’re telling me you and Jordan are a thing now? Like Faith has a boyfriend??”

  The smile she flashed at me didn’t quite reach her eyes. There was something she wasn’t telling me. I had always been able to tell when Faith was keeping secrets from me. I knew she hated it, but at the same time, that was what had made her open up to me in the first place.

  “Yes. Yes, I have a boyfriend. Weird, right? He’s coming over for dinner tonight and I would love for all of you to meet him.”

  “Of course. But Faith, tell me one thing. Are you happy?”

  I see her face drop and I know then that she’s anything but.

  “Yes, Mom, I am happy. Jordan’s a good guy and that’s exactly what I need.”

  She wasn’t telling the truth but pushing her for answers wouldn’t bring me anywhere either. I had to let her come to me when she was ready. Faith wouldn’t let anyone pressure her into talking ever, it had always been on her terms and I could handle that. I would be there when she decided to come to me. For now I would let her keep up the façade.

  We said our goodbyes when it was time to head back to the office and I was curious to see how she would act around Jordan. As long as I had known her she never dated anyone. I understood her reasoning and I really hoped this is what she wanted.

  I got back to work and dug in to my presentation. We were very close to launching the product and I was nervous as hell. Jake had made me solely responsible for the project so most days my nerves were shot. I needed to prove that this company still had a chance after all the fuck ups our old boss had caused. We needed to get our name back out there and show them that we still did quality work.

  When five o’clock came around, I gathered up my stuff and left the office. I was ready to get home. It had been a long exhausting day and I couldn’t wait to soak in my tub before the dinner with Faith and Jordan. I would’ve rather cuddled up with Braden all night but I knew she needed me.

  I was relaxing in my tub when I heard the bathroom door open and Braden walked in. He hadn’t taken off his uniform yet and I sighed at the sight of him. I could look at him all day he was just so damn sexy. I would honestly miss him in his uniform when he got out in a couple of months. We had talked about it a lot and since he couldn’t deploy anymore he decided to get out of the army. He was going to use his GI Bill and go back to school. His plan was to get his degree in law enforcement. I supported him one hundred percent and I couldn’t wait for the day when he wouldn’t be gone for field training anymore either. Even though he was on a non-deployable status they relied on him to train the soldiers and prepare them for their upcoming deployment. So he still had to be away days or weeks at a time. I knew how much he loved his job and if he could deploy I knew he would stay in and make it a career. He could make it far but I was selfish and happy to have him home with me.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” He smirked at me as he walked over and sat on the edge of the tub. He picked up the sponge and started scrubbing my back.

  “Mhm... Just thinking about how much I will miss the sight of you in your ACUs when you get out. I think you’re sexy as fuck in them. My hero.”

  “I’m not a hero, baby. I just do what I have to to keep my guys safe. But I am sure we can arrange for the uniform to come out every once in a while to play.” He winked at me.

  I was so turned on by him and if it hadn’t been for that damn dinner I would have been throwing myself at him.

  “Have you talked to Seth?” I casually asked him.

  “Not really. I don’t know what the hell is going on but I feel like he’s avoiding me at all costs. When I do see him he’s totally spaced out.”

  “I have a feeling something happened between him and Faith. I don’t know what it is but she has been acting weird and she seems sad. I met her for lunch today and she revealed that she is dating Jordan. Faith has a boyfriend. She never dates. She isn’t happy like she pretends to be, I see right through her bullshit. You need to find out what happened. I won’t get answers from her. I won’t push her either. Her past... well, it hasn’t been pretty. So she shuts down as soon as you try to pressure her. I can’t let that happen. She’s finally living and I won’t ruin that.”

  “I’ll try my best. You are right though. He started acting strange after his dinner with Faith. If he hurt her I will kill him.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at my overprotective boyfriend. Seeing how much he cared about my friends caused me to fall in love with him even more. I pulled him towards me and before he knew what was happening he landed in the tub with me, clothes and all. I busted into a fit of laughter and almost started crying I laugh so hard.

  “Oh you’re going to regret this, sweetheart.” He laughed with me. Pulling me close to him he kissed me. The urge to rip his clothes off and ride his already semi hard cock came over me. I pulled back though. As much as I wanted to get lost in this man, I knew I wouldn’t stop once I started. I was insatiable for Braden and I wondered whether these feelings will ever fade. Would I always want him this much? I grinned at him. I was positive that my need and want for him would just grow.

  “I would really like to take those soaked clothes off of you and have my wicked way with you. However, I promised we would have dinner with Faith and Jordan. He should be here soon. Tonight it’s on like Donkey Kong though.”

  He started laughing at me. “On like Donkey Kong? Okay, babe, I’ll hold you to that.”

  I finally got out of the tub and not caring what Jordan thought of me I threw on one of Braden’s army shirts and my yoga pants. I was at home, clearly nobody expected me to dress up, right? Even if they did, well they were out of luck. Braden walked in with only a towel wrapped around his waist. I swear he did this on purpose to tease me. He knew I couldn’t act on my need for him right now.

  “I really like you in my shirt. I would like it more though if I could peel it off of you.”

  I hold up my hand. “Stop! Stop right there. You’re a damn tease. You know I have to leave this room and endure dinner with Faith and her boyfriend. You’re not playing fair.”

  He threw his head back and laughed a deep belly laugh. Yep. Even his damn laugh was sexy. I was a lost cause. I flipped him off and walked out of the room but not without telling him that I would make him sleep in the bathtub if he kept it up.

  I heard Faith and a male voice in the kitchen. Must be Jordan. I met them in the kitchen and I caught Faith pushing Jordan’s arms off of her. Huh? Well that was interesting.

  “Hey, you must be Jordan. I’m Skye, nice to meet you,” I said reaching out my hand to him.

  “Hey, Skye. It’s very nice to meet you too. I have heard so much about you. I think my girl here kind of likes you.” He shook my hand.

  He wasn’t bad looking. He was about Faith’s height, his light brown hair was curly and long and pulled into a ponytail and by his arm muscles I could tell he worked out quite a bit. His arms are covered in tattoos. He reminded me of those surfer guys I always saw at the beach. He was completely different from the guys F
aith usually hooked up with. Braden walked up behind me and put his arms around me. I introduced them to each other and I could see that Braden wasn’t sure what to think about Jordan either. Well this would definitely be an interesting night.

  I heard the front door open and was happy that Caige was able to join us. If I could trust anyone’s judgment, it was his. After all, he had been right about Oliver too. I looked up and saw that Caige apparently hadn’t had time to change after work. He was still in his work clothes. After he had gotten out of the army, he followed his childhood dream and had become a firefighter. I was so damn proud of what he had accomplished. He hadn’t let his PTSD that he suffered from after his deployments stop him and here he was, saving people. I was aware though that this job also did a number on him. He still saw shit no one should ever have to see but as long as he was happy with what he was doing, I was too. On the weekends he would do some DJ gigs. Caige’s passion had always been music.

  The evening moves along as we all sit around the dinner table eating take out Chinese. I wasn’t surprised to find that Faith hadn’t cooked. I was kind of glad she didn’t. The last time she attempted to cook she had set off the fire alarm. Imagine my surprise when I got home from work and saw a fire truck in our driveway. I still gave her shit for that night – it was just too damn funny.

  “So, Jordan, tell me, what do you do for a living?” I asked being my nosy self.

  “Umm... I give surfing lessons at Tybee Beach. It’s the main season right now so I keep quite busy. The winter months suck but I usually bartend then.”

  I had been right about the surfer boy thing. This was totally not Faith’s style. I couldn’t believe she was actually dating this guy. I watched her while everyone was caught up in conversation. Every time Jordan tried to touch her she moved away and rejected his touch. I mean sure I didn’t expect her to be all PDA, but this was weird even for her. If she really was as happy as she claimed to be she would act differently. I needed to find out what was going on. I wouldn’t watch her shut down and be stuck in a relationship that she clearly wasn’t happy with. I wish she would open up her heart to someone whom she was in love with. Yes, I could see that Jordan adored her and he seemed to be a decent guy, but she was lacking the sparkle that I had seen in her eyes when she first met Seth. Dammit, why did that guy have to be married? For some reason, I thought he could be good for Faith and he could possibly break down those damn walls that she had built around her.

  We all settled in the living room watching Ted, drinking beer, laughing and having a good time. Despite my first concerns, the evening turned out to be great and I was surrounded by the most important people in my life. Life was good. I started getting tired so I said my goodbyes and wandered to the bedroom. I heard Braden tell everyone goodnight and soon he was in our room locking the door behind him.

  “So I heard someone saying something about it and I quote ‘being on like Donkey Kong’ earlier,” Braden said as he reached out for me. I took his hand and wrapped myself around him. Braden’s arms felt like home. I never wanted to be anywhere else. He was my rock and I would be lost without him.

  “I thought maybe we could play a little bit tonight.”

  His eyes widened at my words and I saw the surprise on his face. “What do you have in mind?”

  Suddenly I turned shy. I wasn’t usually the one instigating in the bedroom but I had had this fantasy for a while and I wanted to try it with Braden.

  “Umm... Never mind. It’s nothing,” I blabbered. Braden put his finger under my chin and lifted up my face.

  “Talk to me, baby. I’ll do anything you want. You don’t have to be shy. Not in here, not with me. You can always tell me what you want.”

  “I want you to tie me up, Braden. I have had this fantasy for a while and I want to play it out with you. I trust you.”

  “Your wish is my command.” He let go of me and went rumbling in his closet until he finally found what he was looking for. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know why he had cushioned handcuffs but I wouldn’t question it. I arch my eyebrow at him.

  “Take that look off your face. It’s a leftover of one my gifts for my twenty-first birthday. I knew they would come in handy one day so I kept them.”

  I couldn’t help but giggle. I was nervous as hell. I had never done anything like this before.

  “You don’t have to be nervous, so you can stop playing with your hair, babe. We will have a safe word and when it gets to be too much, I will stop. I would never do anything that you’re uncomfortable with.”

  “Why do we need a safe word?”

  “Because I know you will be begging me to stop and I know you won’t really mean it. But when you use your safe word I know that it’s too much. So what do you want your word to be?”

  I didn’t hesitate. “Blue.”

  “Blue?” He looked at me questioningly, and I nod. Blue had become my favorite color, blue like the gorgeous eyes that were staring back at me. I could get lost in them. Every time he looked at me I thought he could look straight into my soul. Those feelings scared the crap out of me but I was willing to take the risk. Braden owned me heart, body and soul. I pulled his head to me and kiss him. I poured all my love in that kiss and hoped he got the message. I loved him so much it hurt, but I trusted him not to break my heart. He picked me up and carried me to our bed. I smiled at the thought, our bed. And there was no one else I would rather share it with.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked me as he pulled his shirt over my head. His eyes darken when he sees I am not wearing a bra. “I can’t believe you weren’t wearing a bra the entire time we were hanging out with our friends. Who are you and what have you done to my sweet innocent Skye?”

  “She decided to let the wilder Skye come out to play tonight. And yes, I am sure I want this.”

  I kept watching his every move while he pinned my arms above my head. I felt the first cuff click around my arm and when I was completely restrained I tugged on the cuffs. Nope no way would I be able to move. Braden hadn’t even touched me yet but I could already feel how wet I was for him. It was unreal what this man did to me.

  “Are you okay? Is it uncomfortable?” I loved how concerned he was, but now wasn’t the time for that. I was squirming with desire and I needed nothing more than to feel him inside of me.

  “Stop talking, Braden, and fuck me. Please.” At my words, he started kissing me, and I opened my mouth letting his tongue invade. I bit his lower lip and he groaned. Fucking sexy. He let up from our kiss, and his eyes were hooded with desire. I would never get enough of seeing his lust for me and I sure as hell hoped that it would never die down.

  He breathed feather light kisses all over my body and quickly I grew frustrated. I wanted to touch him and bury my hands in his hair. I had asked for this though, and I realized then that he was going to take this opportunity to tease the shit out of me. I wrapped my hands around the bed frame and held on for dear life.

  “Braden, will you stop with this teasing shit and fuck me already? It’s been almost a week since I had you.”

  “Patience, my love. I promise it will be worth it.” I felt his smile on my stomach as he looked up to me. “You know, I can’t wait to see your belly grow with our first child. You’re going to be so beautiful.” Tears flood my eyes at what he said – I didn’t know Braden wanted children with me.

  “Please, Braden. I need you.” He slowly slid down my body and when he licked my nub I almost come apart on the spot. Damn him and his talented tongue. I didn’t stand a chance. I felt the familiar build up and just as I was about to come Braden pulls back. I huffed. That bastard. He pushed two fingers inside of me and finger fucked me. I got close again and he pulled his fingers out again.

  “Stop, Braden. Please I beg you, stop and let me come. I need to come.”

  “Mhmm... I think you can wait a little longer.” He flashed his cocky grin at me and turned me around. I had to adjust my arms so the handcuffs wouldn’t hurt me. Once I was s
ettled, I feel Braden’s tongue at my back entrance. I instantly pulled away.

  “One day I am going to take you there, baby. I am going to mark you everywhere. But we will take it slow, I promise.” I became even more aroused. Anal had never been something I had thought about but with Braden I was about willing to try anything. He pulled me out of my thoughts by smacking my ass. Ouch! But then the pain turned into pleasure and I almost willed him to smack me again. I heard the noise of his zipper and knew that he was finally getting rid of his clothes. It was about damn time. He positioned himself at my entrance, and I pushed back trying to get him to take me finally. He chuckled at me.

  “You really need to learn patience, my dear.” With that he entered me and I was in heaven. His pace picked up and he was pounding into me. My pussy clenched around his hard length and I knew I was close. He was hitting that spot inside of me over and over again. Just as I was about to let go he pulled out of me. Again. I was going to kill him. I was so frustrated, but I didn’t let him have the satisfaction of knowing how much he was getting to me. Two could play at this game.

  After a few moments, he pushed back into me and I felt his finger at my backside. He pushed the finger in slowly and I cried out at the intensity. It felt so good. I wasn’t going to last much longer.

  “Oh. My. Braden, please don’t stop. So. Good,” I mumbled in between breaths. I really hoped he would let me come this time. I couldn’t take it anymore. Finally he let me fall over the edge and he was right there with me screaming out my name. My orgasm was still waving through me when he released my hands and got up to walk to the bathroom. When he came back he was holding a wash cloth. I watched him as he tended to me and cleaned me up.

  We just lay there and held each other. Sometimes I still thought I was dreaming and that I would wake up and Braden would be gone.