Veteran Dreams (Forever Young Series)

by Cherron Riser

  The way he moved had her leaning into him, and she breathed in the musky scent of his cologne. It made her shiver. They spent several moments out on the floor as the only other couple out there dancing. She couldn’t even say they were drunk, because they hadn’t started their first drink. Then, after the song ended, he wheeled them over to a table and kissed her softly before letting her slide away.

  Up by the stage, a table had been set up where people could sign up to sing songs. Lita took a big gulp of her drink before walking up to see what they had. Alex had made it clear she wasn’t going to get out of it, so there was no point in trying. Flipping through page after page, she found a powerful song by one of her favorite female rock groups and signed up before going to sit down.

  “What did you pick?” Alex asked, leaning in close in hopes they wouldn’t have to yell quiet as much.

  “You will have to see. I swear, I have never been this nervous to go on stage in my life.” Lita answered, reaching over and taking his hand. Alex was strong, and supportive. Much stronger than most people gave him credit for. Nothing had changed with him in the last ten years, and she loved that about him.

  “Don’t be. You have an amazing voice. Just pretend like you are dancing around in the kitchen in your underwear. Actually, that is what I am going to pretend you are doing,” he teased, his voice dropping into a sexier tone. He had gotten braver with his teasing, which was a little frustrating, but she couldn’t deny how much she enjoyed it.

  “I’m not sure I want to dance naked in front of all these people. But I can give it a try.” She laughed again and went back to her drink.

  A flashy, flamboyant, and extremely tall drag queen came out onto the stage. Her larger-than-life hair was styled perfectly, and her makeup was full of color and glitter. She wore a gorgeous red sequin gown and what had to have been ten-inch heels. More power to her, she was stunning.

  “Hello! I am Roxy Fierce! Welcome, welcome! We have a fun night ahead of amateur singing and laughing. I will do some songs as well! There will be dancing and drinking, so hold on to your wigs, and remember this is all about having a great time!” Her personality was as fierce as her name as she welcomed everyone to the club before breaking into a lively Elton John song. The juxtaposition of her higher “female” voice was shocking as she belted out in a deeper “male” singing voice, and the crowd's reaction seemed to be exactly what she had hoped for as she sang and danced around on the stage.

  Everyone stood and cheered as Roxy finished her first song. “All right now, let’s get this party started for real. First victim, I mean, singer, is Andrew Carmichael! Come on up!” She introduced the first singer, inciting another round of laughter from the crowd.

  Lita was farther down on the list, which was nice. It gave her time to relax more and listen to others. Some were good, really good, others were okay, and then there were some who were horrible. However, no matter how bad the singer was, everyone cheered, laughed, and had a great time. It made Lita feel a little less nervous about going up on the stage, and with the longer it took for her to get to her turn, the more drunk everyone around her got.

  By the time Roxy called her name, Lita was starting to feel pretty good. Alex had driven, so she didn’t need to be as cautious with her drinks. It wasn’t often Lita just let go and allowed someone else to take care of her. More often than not, she would do open mic nights which meant she would have her guitar. Being without it left her feeling a little vulnerable.

  Turning to face the crowd, she hadn’t realized just how full the club had gotten since they first arrived. “Girl, now no reason to be nervous up here. We are all family! Now let’s hear ya!” Roxy said, having seen the way her face fell at the sight of the crowd.

  Sure, they were all family, but that didn’t mean people would like her. Funny how fear could sneak up on you like that. The loud music started to blare out of the speakers, heavy guitar and bass bringing about the start of one of her favorite rock songs. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and let her nerves soak in the vibrations, becoming one with the music like she had all those many years ago. Then she opened her mouth and belted out the first few notes.

  All her nervousness washed away as she continued, singing and dancing, letting the music take her on a journey and inviting the crowd to come along with her. People were dancing, cheering, and just jumping up and down in time to the beat of the drum. Before the end of the first chorus, Lita had a tight grip on the microphone and was moving all over the stage, putting on a show. Alex had said it before; it was like riding a bike. She hadn’t forgotten how to perform; she had just put up a mental block. Once she started to break down the wall, it all came back to her and then some.

  With age, she had gained a different sort of confidence. It allowed her to move in ways she never would have when she was younger. Her eyes held a knowledge that only someone with more experience could express. The audience fuelled her fire, and on that stage, she burned, and it was probably the best she had felt in well over five years. Nothing, in that moment, could bring her down. Absolutely nothing.

  When the song ended and she started to walk off the stage, Roxy took hold of her shoulder and held her there for a few moments. “Well, now, that was something else. You going to stick around and do another song for us, honey?”

  “Umm, yeah, I can do that.” She smiled. Her breath was coming heavy. Performing was a workout, after all.

  “Well, that is what I wanted to hear. How about all of you? You are looking forward to a round two with our sexy rock diva!”

  The crowd cheered louder, and Lita thrust two arms in the air in response, urging them on.

  The smile on Alex’s face when she got back to the table was priceless. He had a mix of heat and pride in his eyes which said more than any words could have. He was proud of her and was glad she finally did what she had been longing to do. “You were so sexy up there.” He pulled her into his lap. He seemed to be enjoying having her there and would get no complaints from her.

  “I was so scared when I went up there, but once I got started, I felt so alive. It was incredible! Did you realize how many people had shown up?” Lita gave him a big kiss. Some people near them made teasing playful noises which made Lita blush, but Alex didn’t care. He held her to him with all his strength and passion and kissed her the way she deserved to be kissed.

  “You have no reason to be scared. You are amazing, and I believe in you,” he whispered and kissed her again.

  Chapter 20

  Alex drove the two of them to Lita’s apartment. She had ended up singing three songs and drinking a few too many drinks. Not that he cared. She deserved the freedom and being on the stage had turned her into a goddess. He wasn’t sure he had ever seen her so beautiful.

  Once they got to her apartment, he pulled her into his lap and took her inside. Something about the night had him wanting to hold her as close to him as possible. The feel of her pressed tightly to him where he could wrap his arms around her and let her feel the strength of him made him feel more like a man than he had in years. It stirred up something deep which he had locked away long ago.

  Lita was being distracting too. She wasn’t just cuddling into him. No, she kissed along his neck and ran her hand up and down his chest, making it difficult for him to navigate to her apartment. However, he managed, and once there, she unlocked the door and let them both inside. Over the last couple of weeks, Lita had done some redecorating to make her apartment easier for him to get around. She put furniture against walls and left the floor more open to allow better access for his chair. It was something that to most seemed small, but to him showed a level of devotion she hadn’t expressed with any words. Lita might not say how she felt, but she never failed to show it.

  Once inside, he wheeled over to the couch, transitioned from his chair, and pulled her to him again. Many of their late nights had been spent kissing and making out. She tasted sweet, and his tongue always craved more from her, but he wanted to do more. Sh
e never pushed, never complained, even when he knew she wanted to take things further. There had been no secret about how she felt about him in the past, and he was sure she was disappointed in the fact she had him but might never fully have him. He loved how she never made him feel that way, though.

  Lita wrapped her legs around him and started kissing him deeply. There was no sweet build-up; she was a hungry vixen begging to feed from his lips, and he was more than happy to let her. They kissed with a passion they never had before. It was the sort of kissing which would usually lead to something more intense. There was no innocence to it. No, it was a full-out explosion of weeks of built-up desire.

  Alex gripped her tight, wanting her to feel his strength and know how much he wanted to please her. Getting caught up in the moment, he lifted her shirt and threw it down on the floor. He let his hands roam the heat of her skin, memorizing every curve, loving the silkiness of her skin against his rough fingers.

  She was a pure beauty, all curves and softness, which screamed woman to him. It made him want nothing more than to fulfil her every need and desire. When he ran his hand down her back, he slid his hands into her leather pants and gripped her bare ass, holding onto her and rocking her against him. His body wouldn’t react, but hers would. He could feel the temperature of her skin growing hotter, and it excited him on a deeper level than purely physical.

  “Lita, I want to make love to you,” he whispered against her ear as he continued to nibble and suck along the sweet curve of her neck.

  ***

  His words shook her. She looked up into Alex’s eyes. They were heated and full of passion with so much power behind them. He held her with strength like he would protect her no matter what. It made her feel small, in a good way. However, she had not expected those words.

  “Umm, how?” she asked, not wanting to ruin the mood but honestly confused.

  Alex didn’t stop kissing her and touching her. His hands were demanding of her body, begging for more of her. “Stand up.”

  His words reached deep down into her, and she found herself compelled to do as he asked. She watched as he reached out and pulled the button free. Slowly, he pulled the zipper down, and since leather required a little extra force to be pulled off, he yanked the pants down her legs. His forceful hands worked her pants and panties as far down her legs as he could reach, and she finished the rest. Then he turned her around before pulling her back down to his lap.

  Swiftly, he pulled free her bra and slid the straps down her arms, kissing where they had pressed into the skin of her shoulder. Part of her felt strange being completely naked while he was fully dressed, but he at least took a moment to take off his shirt before pulling her back against him. His hands kneaded her breasts, teasing her nipples and sending shockwaves of pleasure through her body.

  He was strong, very strong. His military training had not diminished after his time in the chair. She couldn't imagine him being stronger. Moaning, she arched against his firm chest. The motion seemed to urge him on, and it wasn’t lost on her that he hadn’t answered her. She didn’t know what he had in mind, but her body was on fire with anticipation. One of his hands slid farther down her body, making her gasp and roll against it. The teasing of his fingers had her begging, moaning, for him to do more.

  The lower his fingers travelled, the tighter the coil inside of her wound up. Then he pressed them against her, not inside but against the outer mound. He pressed at her, teasing her more. “Please,” she said breathily, rolling as if to encourage him to do more.

  His deep chuckle vibrated over her body. His other hand moved from her breast and up into her hair, gripping into the strands and making her arch more. “I want to feel you shake in my arms while I make love to you.”

  His finger slid into her and pressed against that little ball of nerves that electrified her entire body. She cried out from the first touch, having wanted it more than anything else. He stroked her slowly at first as his lips moved over her neck. He didn’t just kiss her and suck on her. He nibbled and bit into her skin. She had dreamed about a moment like this before. But she had never imagined it would feel so invigorating. She moved with his touch, showing him exactly how she enjoyed being touched, and then he took full control.

  “You are so beautiful, so sexy. This has taken far too long,” he growled against her ear, making her gasp.

  He teased and toyed with her, building her up and stopping. It drove her crazy, and each time, he brought her closer and closer to the edge. She wanted to fall over the edge, but he kept her dancing on it, and she was sure he was trying to drive her insane. She wasn’t sure how many times he brought her to that edge, but finally it happened. White flashed behind her eyes as she cried out as waves of writhing pleasure pulsed over ever nerve of her body, but it wasn’t the end.

  He flipped her around and had her straddle him again. This time, he impaled her on those strong fingers and began to fuck her with all of his power and strength. She clung to him, feeling orgasm after orgasm through crash through her. It had been so long since she had felt so much pleasure, and he was selflessly giving it to her.

  Finally, she was spent, and he pulled his hand away from her. As she settled back down in his lap, she kissed him. They kissed with passion, care, possibly even love, but they weren’t ready for that. “I can’t believe you just did that,” she whispered against his lips.

  “It was incredible. You have never looked so beautiful and sexy. Damn, it felt good to make you feel like that.” His voice was still husky and deep, making her shake with aftershock.

  “But…” She wanted to do something for him, but she had no idea what she could do.

  “But what. You made me feel so good. The way you shook in my arms and begged for me to touch you. I haven’t felt this strong and this alive in a such long time. All I have wanted for the last five years was to feel what I did tonight. I got to watch you sing and dance, then I got to make you feel this. I couldn’t be happier” he pulled her in closer to him and stroked her head, cradling her into his body.

  There was something about how he held her and spoke to her. It was beyond the walls the two of them had built. He was not a broken soldier afraid he couldn’t make a woman happy. She was not a lost artist falling victim to the normalities of life. How could anyone let him get away? He was everything she had longed for. Everything she had believed he would be. Strong, powerful, passionate, fierce, yet supportive, playful, and oh so sexy. If she could bottle this feeling and save it for times she felt depressed and sad, she would.

  As her body came down from the high, she breathed him in and let him hold her and protect her. She wasn’t sure how much time passed before he reached and pulled a blanket over to two of them, all the while petting her, sinking his love into her. No, they didn’t say it with words, but she could feel it with everything he did. Before long, they were both lying on the couch, and he held her. He held her and let her sleep feeling whole for the first time in longer than she could remember.

  Chapter 21

  “Your proposal is the best I have heard in years. There is no way they are going to pass this up. With some fine tuning, you will be ready for the meeting Friday. I have to say, Lita, you have been on fire these last few weeks. This is the woman I hired all those years ago. The one I was sure would lead this company into a greater age,” Mrs. McDowell said after looking over everything Lita had put together.

  She would do a practice run of the presentation Thursday then move on to the official meeting first thing Friday morning. Everything in life was going in a direction she was proud of. “Thank you.” Something about Alex being in her life had her ready to take on the world. “Thank you for everything. This opportunity has really pushed me, and I want to find that spark again.”

  “Well, you seemed to have found it. I can’t wait for Friday. You are going to do amazing!” Lita wasn’t sure the last time she saw Mrs. McDowell that excited, but it was certainly a joy to see. Gathering her things, she started to leave th
e conference room when the phone rang. Not wanting to be rude, she picked it up. “Hello, McDowell Marketing Solutions. This is Lita. How may I help you?”

  “Hey, Lita, it’s Regan. Sorry to bother you at work. You know I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important.” Lita felt her heart start to race. While Kammy had no issue with interrupting Lita’s work day with useless jabber, Regan never called until she was off work.

  “What’s going on?” Lita asked, taking a seat in the chair by the phone.

  “It’s Kammy. I just got a call, and she is in the hospital. She overdosed on something, I’m not even sure what. Her mother asked me to meet her up there. That guy Kammy was seeing was arrested, and the house is being raided.”

  Lita felt her breath catch in her chest. She had just seen Kammy a few weeks ago, and Regan had only told her about Kammy’s problems during her visit. It was like everything she knew about one of her closest friends was being turned inside out. “I should come down there.”

  “No, not right now, Lita. Right now, they are saying she is in stable condition, and I will keep you informed on everything I find out. It doesn’t make sense for you to leave work, and things are going to be super crazy around here. I just wanted to make sure you knew what was going on.”

  A part of her felt like she should still go to see her friend, but she also had a huge presentation at the end of the week. How was she supposed to stand by while her friend needed her? “I just feel like I am letting her down.”

  “Lita, seriously. She is the one that let you down and owes you. She did this to herself, and it isn’t right for you to screw up everything you have been working for just to come down here. She is in the hospital and will be here through weekend at least. If you really want, come down Friday after you finish your presentation, but I will keep you updated.” Regan was being firm, and she knew her friend was right. There was nothing more she could do by sitting around in the hospital. This presentation, however, had been weeks of work and would come with a huge promotion. It had to be done.