“What else is wrong, Scott?”
He blinked, hoping his feeling weren’t so transparent. “Nothing. I just don’t like this. There are too many variables.”
“Son, you’ve been in this racket long enough to understand about bad intel. It’s part and parcel of the trade.” The Captain’s chair squeaked loudly as he leaned back to peer at him above the steeple of his crowned fingers. “You still seeing that doctor?”
Stunned, he responded, “What makes you ask that?”
“I wasn’t born last week, son. When she was in my office that day, you looked at her like she was a well-cooked pot of collard greens. Not that I blame you. Hell, if it weren’t for Martha, I might be tempted to let her psychoanalyze me, too.”
Scott laughed, shaking his head. “Yeah, well I haven’t told her about this mission.”
Captain Martin sighed as he placed his elbows on the desk. “I’ve been married for nearly thirty years because Martha is a wonderful, resilient woman. I’ll admit, we’ve had our problems, but the one thing I’ve learned is never to keep secrets from her. Relationships are sustained with trust, son. And you have to give to receive.”
“The thing is, Skipper. She’s not too keen on having a relationship with anyone in the military.” He paused, exhaling a long-winded breath. “Her father was Special Forces.”
“And that means what?”
“It means she harbors a lot of resentment toward my job.”
“Who wouldn’t?” The Captain snapped. “You think Martha likes it when I leave?”
“Your wife is different, sir.”
“She is not. I had to beg on my knees for an hour straight before she decided to marry me. She kept saying how she didn’t want to have to raise a kid by herself. Yet, as I look back on our time together, that one little hour was worth it. She’s the best damn thing in my life, son, and if given the choice I’d do it all over again.”
“I don’t know,” Scott answered truthfully.
“For a SEAL, you’re really starting to sound like a pansy ass,” Captain Martin remarked, wagging his finger. “Get your butt in gear, son. This woman has more than enough grits for your bacon. You’d be a fool to let her go.”
“But what if she doesn’t want me?” he asked, voicing the question he really didn’t want an answer to.
“Then you have nothing to lose. Remember FDR, son. ‘Nothing to fear except fear itself’.”
Pondering Captain Martin’s words, Scott slowly rose to his feet. “Thank you, sir. I’ll take what you said to heart.”
“Make sure you do, and be sure to invite me to the wedding.”
Turning to leave, he smiled over his shoulder. “If there ever is one, sir, you’ll be right there with me.”
“Trust, boy,” the Captain snickered in return, walking around his desk. “You know that McCartney fellow had it right when the said ‘all you need is love’.”
Scott wasn’t so sure an old Beatles’ song would help his plight, but he shook the proffered hand in front of him vigorously. “Thanks, sir. I’ll keep that in mind.”
* * * *
The moment of truth had arrived.
Scott made only one stop before driving to Holly’s house and as he pulled into the parking space beside hers, he took a deep breath and exited the car. Even though she had given him a key, he still knocked, waiting impatiently for her to answer.
“What are you doing here?” she asked as soon as she pulled open the door. “I didn’t expect to see you ‘til later.”
Shuffling his feet, Scott stared down at her, his body reacting as usual to her super short shorts and spandex halter-top. Her face was flushed, sweat beaded along her brow and he figured he must have interrupted her workout.
Just the sight of her, sweaty and musky, tightened his cock, and blood rushed to fill him until he throbbed with awareness. Sighing, he pushed the lust to the back of his mind and he cleared his throat. “I have to talk to you,” he said in a rush.
“O-okay. Come inside. I’ll just go shower and change…”
“No.” He halted her by grabbing her arm. “This can’t wait.”
A flustered look tightened her brows before an expressionless mask dropped into place. “Follow me,” she said, her voice suddenly cold and remote.
He swallowed, immediately recognizing her “psychiatrist” face. What does she think I’m about to say? The fact that he, himself, didn’t know bothered him to no end, but he continued to walk behind her, finally sitting beside her on the couch.
“So what’s up?” she asked, crossing her legs.
He grimaced, but plowed ahead, remembering Captain Martin’s words. “I don’t really know how to say this,” he began.
“All the more reason to just go for it, then.”
He nodded and gulped a breath of air. “I have to leave in two days.”
“Okay,” she answered, her tone slightly perplexed.
“No, you’re not understanding me. I have to leave in two days for a mission,” he continued, watching her face intently.
Her brows pinched together before she looked down at her feet “So soon,” she murmured.
Scott exhaled slowly, reaching to grab one of her hands. “The timeline was moved up at the last moment.”
“So—so you’ve known about this mission for a while?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “Look, I know you’re probably really angry, but I…”
“I’m not.”
“No, I know you are, but you have to hear me out.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “I’m listening.”
Scott shook his head and scrubbed a hand across his face, trying to figure out where best to begin. Talking had never been his strong point. He’d always believed actions always spoke louder than words, but he wouldn’t be able to show her what he felt. He’d have to say it.
Sighing heavily, he started at the best place possible. “I love you, Holly. I-I know it’s sudden, and fast, but it’s the truth.” He paused, slanting his eyes toward her, trying desperately to read her expression, but her face was like a mask, stony and expressionless. Disheartened, he continued to press forward, knowing instinctively he had nothing to lose. “You bring solace to my life. And when I’m with you, everything feels right. I know this is the wrong damn time and you probably don’t want to be with a man like me, but I swear to God I’ll love you forever. I just want…”
Holly shook her head and waved a hand in the air before pressing a tapered finger against his lips. “Shut up, Scott,” she said with a laugh. “Now I know how that girl in Jerry Maguire felt because seriously, you had me with ‘I love you’.”
He blinked, not sure he’d heard right, and then she nodded, affirming that yes, he had heard right. “So you’re not mad?”
She laughed again. “No.”
“I-I don’t get it. I’d thought you’d be upset.” He actually thought she’d be more than just upset and far from the hysterically laughing woman sitting next to him.
“A couple of days ago I might have been. Now,” she sighed, giving him a lopsided smile. “I’m going with the flow.”
“But, I thought you never wanted to be with a man in the military.”
“Well,” she breathed, grinning like the cat who had stolen the cream, “I’ve decided I’d rather be with the man I love, in and out of uniform.” She eyed his cammies, her gaze seductive. “And since I only have two days to show how desperately you’ll be missed, let’s go upstairs.”
Scott felt pole-axed. “Wait a minute,” he said, standing to trail after her before she could march up the steps. “Just like that? I love you and you love me?”
Just saying it sounded strange, but he waited, his heart somewhere in his throat.
“Love doesn’t always need a black moment.”
He had no idea what a black moment was, but it didn’t sound like anything he wanted to investigate.
Scott watched Holly saunter up the stairs, her hips moving so her lush ass swung from side to side
, and he frowned, still not believing how easy this had been.
Yet, there was one more thing he needed to do. “What a minute, we still have some things to discuss,” he yelled after her.
“We can discuss it later,” she hollered back, vaulting the last step and disappearing around the corner. Seconds later, her damp sports bra floated down, landing directly on his head.
She certainly knows how to get her point across.
Smiling, Scott snatched the garment away and tossed it across the living room. He didn’t need any more hints to get his feet moving. He took the steps two at time in haste, his body already eager. “You know you’re going to pay for that, right?”
“Since you’re down there and I am up here in the bedroom, I don’t see how that’s going to happen!”
“But now…” His words trailed away as Holly turned to greet him, naked as the day she was born. “God, you’re beautiful.”
“And stinky,” she said, winking at him. “Why don’t you take your clothes off and join me in the shower?”
Exhaling slowly, Scot imagined water sluicing down her skin and her breasts slick with soap. He was already thinking of various ways to take her, but there was one more thing that had to be done.
“Wait a minute.”
Holly raised an eyebrow, tilted her head to the side and planted her hands on her naked hips. “Yes?”
“Don’t move. Just stay there,” he said, walking toward her.
His heart rate increased until he was sure she could hear it beating a rapid tattoo, but still he kept moving forward, stopping just in front of her. “I love you, Holly Burton and I want to come home to you for the rest of my life.” Pausing he pulled the velvet box from his cargo pocket containing the engagement ring he’d bought earlier. He briefly thought about kneeling, but that would have put his face in line with the tempting folds of her cunt and he needed to keep his wits about him, so he lifted her face to lay a gentle kiss on her lips instead. “Will you marry me?”
She laughed and hugged him close, whispering, “I’d thought you’d never get around to asking.”
Epilogue
“Holly, it’s three-thirty.”
Sighing, she frowned at her sister, Lily. “Don’t worry, he’ll be here. Where’s my veil?”
Daisy stood up from her chair, fingering the silky netting. “You know, Hol. You’re awful calm for a woman about to get married in thirty minutes.”
“Yeah, especially considering there’s no groom in sight,” Lily chirped.
Rolling her eyes, Holly looked back at the mirror, thinking she needed a bit more mascara. “I told you. He’ll be here.”
“You haven’t seen the man in four months! What if he got delayed or something? In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a room full of people waiting for a bride and a groom.”
She sighed, turning to spear Lily with “the look.”
“You’re a fine one to talk.” Pausing, she glanced over her shoulder at Daisy. “Both of you, matter of fact. If it weren’t for you two turds, I wouldn’t even have to go through this drama.”
“Hey, don’t blame me,” Daisy said.
“Yeah, well, mom threatened to come after me with a skillet if I didn’t have a proper ceremony. And I blame that entirely on you two knuckleheads with your fly-by-night weddings.”
“You’re the oldest and therefore the most responsible, so of course this honor should be yours.”
“Really funny, Dee.”
“I try.”
Holly chuckled before turning back to the mirror. She’d imagined her wedding many times when she was younger, but she never would have imagined that the day or the moment would be so glorious. In less than thirty minutes she’d walk down the aisle to join her future with the man she loved more than life itself. The power of those feelings warmed her with a glow she knew radiated to the outside world.
Exhaling slowly, she motioned to Daisy. “It’s almost time. I guess I should put the veil on now.”
Both of her sisters smiled before coming to stand beside her. They each helped to place the delicate clips and combs in her hair, neither of them satisfied until it was perfect. When they finished, all stood silent for a moment, caught in their own thoughts.
“You really do look beautiful, Holly,” Lily said, her voice strangled with emotion.
“Well, since we’re identical I say we all look beautiful.” She grabbed her sisters’ hands, interlocking her fingers with theirs. “You know standing here in the bathroom with you guys reminds me of something.”
“Hmmm. The Vow,” Daisy murmured. “Well, I guess we all shot that to hell, didn’t we?”
“I’ve got an idea. Let’s make another one.” Holly laughed with the suggestion.
“I don’t know, Holly. You’re like oh-and-one in the vow department,” Lily offered.
“Let’s all promise to be happy.”
Daisy nodded, lifting her eyebrows as though deep in thought. “I think I can do that.”
Lily also looked contemplative before replying, “Me, too. Though if your soon-to-be-husband doesn’t show up, you’re going to oh-and-two, Hol, and graduation day is going to seem like a good memory.”
Just then, their mother burst through the door, looking frantic and harried. “Thank the Lord! He’s finally here. Your father’s helping him get dressed.”
Holly smiled, never having had a doubt. “Told you.”
The End
Glossary
*terms are listed in order as they appear*
HM2-Hospital Corpsmen Second Class
MHS-Mental Health Services
DOB-Date of Birth
M-16-High powered assault rifle
Naval Academy-Official college for the United States Navy
SEALs-Navy’s counter insurgency force which stands for Sea Air and Land
‘Right Spirit’-Campaign instituted in 1995 to reduce alcohol abuse
BUPERS-Acronym for the Bureau of Navy Personnel
HR-Human Resources
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-A disordered associated with a traumatic event commonly know as PTSD
SIQ-Sick in Quarters
‘package’-Colloquial term used for an application
JC-Joint Chiefs
CO-Commanding Officer
DSM-Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
OCS-Officer Candidate School
NSA-National Security Agency
The End
About the Author:
Karen Monroe sails all over the world in the United States Navy. In her travels, she's had the pleasure of encountering some very sexy men of different cultures and appetites. Her stories are born from fifty percent experience (she calls it research) and fifty percent vivid erotic fantasy.
Karen's love for romance novels started in the sixth grade, when a far-sighted librarian overlooked a Harlequin Temptation she had mistakenly slipped into her check-out stack. After that fateful day, her lot in life as a writer was sealed. A stint at erotic dancing helped mold her perception of its contribution to today's lifestyle. The experience and understanding of that growing sub-culture provides Karen with the basis of some of her best stories.
In addition to writing and sailing the seven seas, Karen enjoys exotic cuisines, window shopping (she's in the Navy, give her a break!), sightseeing, learning new languages, and—most importantly—meeting guys. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California in Los Angeles and is currently working on obtaining a Masters in English. When not out boating, Karen calls San Diego home, where she keeps a stash of one dollar bills for Ladies Night Out.
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