by Maree Green
Amber groaned and threw herself backwards on the bed in exasperation.
“Thank you, Amy. Can you come now at all?”
I glanced at the clock. “Sure.”
“All right. We’ll see you soon.”
I listened to the click of the line going dead before locking my cell and turning to face Amber.
“You’re a glutton for punishment,” she said.
“She said they want to talk.” I shrugged. “Maybe they’ve realized they’ve made a mistake.”
“Yeah, and maybe the world is a freaking cube, Amy. I don’t buy a single thing she says. Don’t go. She’s only going to try to manipulate you.”
I pressed my lips together and gazed out the window. “I know there’s a chance nothing’s changed, but I have to try.” I turned to look her in the eye. I needed her to understand. “I need to know that I did everything I could. You know?”
She stared back at me for a long while before sighing. “Yeah. I get it. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to protect you from their shit. I don’t like seeing you hurt, babe.”
“I know,” I said, picking up my bag and cell. “Hopefully we’re both wrong.”
I was nervous as I drove the few blocks to Mom and Dad’s. I knew there was a high possibility that Amber was right, but like I said to her, I needed to do this.
Pulling my car up to the curb, I climbed out and locked the doors before pushing the button on the intercom.
“Amy,” Mom’s voice came through the speaker. “Don’t be silly. You don’t need to ring the bell. Just come inside.”
The stern tone of her voice threw me. I hesitated. Unease crept up inside me.
Swallowing down the confusion, I punched in the code I was sure they’d have changed by now and watched the gate start sliding open. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the front door and hesitantly turned the knob.
“Hello?”
“We’re in the living room,” Mom called.
Closing the door, I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin, then started down the hall.
As soon as I walked in, all my hopes vanished. Amber was right. Mom and Dad were seated on one of the long couches, and sitting on the end of the other, was Ryan.
My jaw went slack, and my eyes instantly narrowed on him. What the hell was he doing here?
“Hi, Amy,” he said calmly.
I was sure my jaw hung open a little more. He was freaking sitting on my parents’ couch like he freaking belonged there. What the actual fuck?
I looked between the three of them. “What’s going on?”
Irritation flashed through Dad’s eyes. “Sit down, Amy.”
Panic was starting to swell up inside me. I was seriously worried about what they had planned. “Uh . . . I’m good, thanks. I just want to know what’s going on. Why is Ryan here?”
Mom huffed with annoyance. “We just want to talk, Amy. Please stop being rude and sit down.”
The harshness of her voice made me feel like a child again, and I strangely found myself moving toward the couch. What the hell was I doing?
Approval replaced Mom’s annoyed façade, and I was hit by a wave of relief, which quickly turned to alarm when I realized what it was. I wasn’t ready for this. I thought I was. I thought I’d taken enough control over my life to stand up for myself, but here I was, panicking over their displeasure and rejoicing in their approval.
Sitting down on the edge of the couch, as far away from Ryan as possible, I placed my trembling hands in my lap and faced my parents.
“What would you care to discuss?” I asked.
The smug look on Dad’s face was what finally made me snap out of it. I was suddenly reminded of all the reasons why I left. I hadn’t been insolent. I’d been loyal and obedient, like a freaking dog. And it still wasn’t good enough for them.
My resolve tightened. Yes, I was hopeful they would like to make amends, but I wasn’t going to let them walk all over me. Daniel believed in me. He made me believe in myself. I wasn’t going to let him, or myself, down.
“Ryan came to see us this morning and has made a very interesting proposal,” Dad said, his chin tilted up with all his self-importance.
I glanced at Ryan, my eyes narrowing dangerously. He gazed back at me with a confidence I was sure was feigned when I saw a flicker of shame flash through his eyes.
“And what kind of proposal would that be?”
Mom grinned, excitement winning out over composure. “Ryan has told us he forgave you, and that he’d like for you two to get back together. He’s asked your father and me for your hand in marriage, which, of course, we’ve happily agreed to, on the provision that it happens no later than the month after you both graduate.”
I gaped at her. There was no other way to describe it. I was seriously stunned. That had been the last thing I’d expected to happen when I came here.
Turning to Ryan, I shook my head. There were so many things I wanted to say to him in that moment. The disappointment I felt on Daniel’s behalf was enormous.
“You should be disgusted with yourself. How you could do this to your own brother is beyond me,” I said, unable to stop the slight sheen of anger from appearing in my eyes.
Knowing there was no way I’d be able to stomach sitting there a second longer, I pushed myself to my feet and slung my bag over my shoulder.
“Amy, sit down!” Dad bellowed.
“I told you she’d be melodramatic about it all,” Mom said, rolling her eyes.
I strengthened my stance and gave each of them a firm look in turn. “You’ve all officially lost it. This is not family. This is not love. And I don’t want anything to do with it.”
With that, I turned and walked out, blocking out the sounds of their protests as I went. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had a hunch this would be the last time I would see them. And strangely, I was okay with that.
Chapter 20
Daniel
Six months later…
Excitement hummed in the air. Everywhere I looked, marines were smiling. We’d just arrived back from our six-month stint in Oz, and we were all looking forward to the two weeks’ leave we’d been given. Our time in Australia had been a breeze, really, so I didn’t particularly feel like we’d earned the time, but I desperately wanted to see Amy, so I sure as shit wasn’t going to complain about it.
Turning my cap around in my hands, I gave Camp Pendleton one last look around and smiled. I’d done it. I’d gotten through my first six months without Amy. And according to Mom’s philosophy, we’d made it out the other side completely unscathed. In fact, I thought we were stronger than ever. Every time I saw her smiling face through Skype, every time I saw just how strong she was growing—how confident and independent she looked—I fell in love with her a little more.
Striding toward the main gate, I chuckled at how hard it had been at times. I seriously had to learn to push all thoughts of her to the back of my mind. I knew that probably made me sound like a bastard, but she had the potential to consume me. If I didn’t do it that way, I wouldn’t have made it through the first week without fucking up.
It was hard enough getting my focus back into line on a Monday morning after Skyping with her on the weekends. Seeing her face and hearing her voice as she whispered how much she missed me had been a blessing and a curse.
But just like Mom had said, the time apart had really put our relationship into perspective. At least for me, anyway. I missed her like fucking crazy, and it only reinforced just how right I thought we were for each other. I couldn’t wait to get back to her.
Stepping onto the bus, I took a seat and closed my eyes. The only way I was going to be able to ride out the next seven hours without going mental was to sleep.
***
Nervous energy pumped through my blood as I pulled into Amber’s parents’ long drive. I wasn’t exactly sure why that was. I wasn’t worried about how she would react when she saw me. I knew we were good. I put it down to the fact that I knew th
is time was different. This time when I saw her, I knew it was the beginning of our lives together. I just hoped she saw it that way too.
Straightening my uniform, I knocked on the door and waited.
A few moments later, the door creaked open, and I was faced with Amber’s mom, Kathryn, smiling across at me.
“Daniel,” she said, looking over my uniform. “Oh my goodness, don’t you look handsome.”
I laughed quietly at her, slightly amused. “Well, thank you, ma’am.”
She laughed and shook her head. “I think Amy’s nearly ready. Do you want to come in?”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I said, stepping through so she could close the door.
Kathryn opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted by a loud squeal. We both looked up to see Amy flying down the stairs toward me. I couldn’t help the grin that broke out at the sight of her. God, I’d missed her.
Moving forward, I caught her just as she dived at me, the high impact of her body sending me back a couple of steps.
“Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re finally here!” she said, kissing my face hurriedly.
I held her away from me to grin at her before pulling her back in for a proper kiss.
I didn’t realize just how much we’d both missed each other physically until the kiss quickly turned heated. Amy’s hands gripped me hard against my too-short hair, while mine crushed her body against mine. Our kiss was so forceful I was sure we’d both end up with bruised lips.
“Well, it’s good to know you two still have that explosive chemistry.”
We quickly broke apart, breathless, and turned to see Amber’s smug grin from the bottom of the stairs. I shifted my body to maybe apologize to Mrs. Crawford, but, thankfully, she’d gone. I hoped she had left before Amy and I had tried to devour each other.
“How are you, Amber?” I asked.
She grinned wider. “Not as good as you, obviously.”
Amy squeezed me and nuzzled into my chest, making my body swell with pride. “Are you ready to go, Princess?”
She gazed up at me and gave me a smile that instantly melted me. “I just have to grab my bag.”
I looked up to see Amber holding out a black bag as it swung back and forth. Amy took it from her, actually looking a little giddy.
“Have fun, you two,” Amber sang as we left. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do . . . ”
“I don’t actually think that’s possible, Amber,” Amy called out with a laugh.
Making sure she was safely strapped into the car before I climbed in, I turned over the ignition and pulled out onto the street.
I couldn’t stop looking over at her as I drove. I’d missed her so fucking much. All I could think about was being inside her again. And soon.
“I just have to drop my bags home and get changed, if that’s okay?” I asked, trying to change my thoughts.
Her eyebrows rose. “Oh, you haven’t been home yet?”
I gave her a deadpan look. “Princess, you’re the most important part of my life. If coming to you is ever an option amongst others, I’ll take it first. Mom left her car for me at the station.”
I saw her inhale deeply, her eyes darkening with desire. Fuck. So much for trying to get my thoughts away from being inside her.
“I love you so much, Daniel.”
I gazed across at her for as long as I could while I was driving. Saying ‘I love you’ back just didn’t seem like enough in that moment. I needed it to be more than that. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to explain to you just how much I love you right now.”
She bit her lip, and I had to force myself to look away.
Pulling into Mom’s drive, I cut the engine and got out to go open Amy’s door for her. Without a word, I led her into the empty house and closed the door behind her.
I watched her look around. “Isn’t anybody home?”
Slowly, I shook my head.
Amy’s breath stopped. “Make love to me, Daniel,” she whispered, a slight desperation in her words.
I forced myself to stay where I was. “I’d planned to take you out first. I thought we could go to our tree in the park and watch the clouds…” My voice betrayed my intentions, displaying just how much I wanted to do what she’d said.
She shook her head, slowly. “I want you now. Please . . . ?”
Deciding it would just be plain stupidity to argue, I took her hand and led her up to my room. By the time I closed the door and turned back around to face her, she’d already shed her clothes and was standing before me completely naked.
“Fuck,” I choked out. “Amy . . . ”
She stepped closer to me and started undoing the buttons on my jacket. I couldn’t stop staring at her body. Fuck me, she seemed more and more sexy each time I saw her.
Once she had my jacket off, she started on the buttons on my shirt, and each time one opened, she kissed the skin it exposed. I shuddered with each press of her lips.
“Amy . . . ” I groaned. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it last . . . I want to be inside you so fucking much.”
She kissed me again while she softly shook her head. “I want quick too. We can enjoy each other more later . . . ”
I still hadn’t touched her. I knew the second I did, I would be inside her before I could think, and I wanted to enjoy her undressing me a little longer.
When my shirt joined my jacket on the floor, she started on my belt buckle, then my pants. With slow movements, she slid the zipper down, her hand accidentally brushing against my straining cock as she went.
That was all it took for my control to snap.
Kicking my shoes off and stepping out of my pants, I picked her up and pressed her against me as I moved toward the bed. Amy responded with just as much eagerness, clinging to me with a desperation that rivaled mine.
Laying her out on the bed, I fumbled to remove my boxers as fast as I could before I climbed back over the top of her. Kissing her with a passion I’d never felt before, I pressed my cock to her opening.
“God, Daniel,” she breathed. “I want you so much.”
With no words to express what I was feeling, I kissed her and pushed inside.
She was so fucking wet for me, and the feel of her tight warmth instantly made my head spin. Pausing, I pressed my lips to her neck and tried to rein in some form of control, but with Amy clinging to me, her nails digging into my back, and her legs clamped around my hips, I had no chance.
Slowly, I withdrew before pushing in again, just as slow. Amy let out a breathy kind of sound somewhere between a sigh and a moan and pushed her hips up to grind against mine. Clenching my jaw tight, I withdrew again and again, keeping the same slow rhythm with the hope that it’d keep me from coming too soon.
Amy had other ideas, though. Her hands moved to my ass, where her fingernails pressed into my skin, and she started grinding her hips faster and faster.
“Amy,” I choked out. “I’m going to come.”
I didn’t know what I was expecting those words to do to her, but it certainly wasn’t her thrashing harder. Giving up the pretense of control, I let go, my hips slamming forward uncontrollably, the sound of our skin slapping together only heightening my need to explode inside her.
Amy’s slight body stiffened and arched into me, her fingernails biting into my skin as she cried out a release I didn’t even know was coming. The sound of her ecstasy and feel of her tightening around my cock was the end of me.
Pushing in hard, I exploded, my body jerking as I released myself inside her. Groaning, I gasped against her neck, trying to catch my breath. I was sure that hadn’t even lasted five minutes, but fuck, it was the best four and whatever minutes of my life.
When my breath returned, I kissed her slowly, not yet ready to remove myself from the tight warmth of her body. “God, I missed you,” I whispered before I kissed her again.
“I missed you so much,” she murmured before burying her face in my neck.
After a while, I eased myself out of her, then moved us so we were on our sides, facing each other, but still wrapped in each other. Kissing her forehead, I squeezed her tiny body even closer. “I found out where I’m going to be stationed this week,” I murmured into her hair.
She immediately pulled back, making me frown. “You did? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrugged, trying to pull her back in again, but she resisted. “I just thought I’d tell you in person.”