Pull You Through

by Kaylee Ryan

  “I’m sure they would as long as it’s edible.” I chuckle.

  “Oh, hush.” She grins. “We’ve got this. Come on.” She holds out her hand for me, and I take it, allowing her to pull me from my lounger chair.

  We head to our rooms to shower and get ready for the day. A knock comes at my door, and I open it, not bothering to ask who it is. I know it’s Savannah. “Have you checked out the kitchen yet?” she asks.

  “Nope. I went straight to the shower.” Reaching out, she grabs my hand and tugs me toward the small kitchenette.

  “We need a menu so we know what dishes we need. I called Mom, and she suggested we could buy those disposable aluminum pans to use.”

  “That’s a good idea. So, what are you thinking?”

  “We need a turkey obviously.” She raises her hand and holds up one finger and then others as she lists items. “Mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, rolls, and a dessert. Oh, and stuffing. I would say sweet potatoes, but Brandon doesn’t like them.”

  “Yeah, Slade doesn’t either.”

  She looks at me with raised brows. “How do you know?”

  “We talk, all the time. We’ve had weeks of talking and getting to know one another.”

  She nods. “Okay, so what else?”

  “For the four of us, that’s plenty. I can handle all the sides, but I don’t have the first idea of how to cook a turkey. As far as dessert, we can just grab a pumpkin pie from the freezer section and some whip cream.”

  “I thought we could make one from scratch.” She almost pouts.

  I snort and shake my head. “Let’s not bite off more than we can chew. This is our first attempt. Besides, the guys couldn’t care less if it’s frozen. It will be the effort, and they get to spend the day with us. It’ll be fine. Trust me.”

  “Fine.” A soft sigh escapes her lips. She pulls her phone out of her pocket and makes a list of things we’ll need as she sifts through the small kitchen. “They don’t give you much,” she says, opening and closing cabinets.

  “I’m sure not many people plan to make Thanksgiving dinner from their suite.”

  “Really? Surely we’re not the only ones who come to visit and plan to cook during the time the base shuts down.”

  I shrug. “I don’t know what they do, but I know what we’re doing.”

  She grins. “Yes. Let’s head to the store here on base. I hope they have everything that we need.”

  Fifteen minutes later, we’re in the store with Savannah’s list pulled up on her phone. We take our time walking down every aisle, tossing items in the cart. By the time we make it to the checkout counter, the cart is full. We check out and push the cart outside and realize our mistake. We have no car to load them into, and there are no taxis on base. We look at the cart, then each other, then back at the cart, clearly at a loss for what to do next.

  “You ladies, okay?” a masculine voice asks from behind us. Looking up, I spot two seriously hot guys standing there smirking. “You need some help with those?” they ask.

  I’m just about to say no, we can figure it out, when Savvy says, “Yes, please.”

  “Where are you parked?” they ask.

  “Umm, we’re not. We’re staying at the hotel here on base and planned to make dinner tomorrow. We didn’t exactly think through getting all this back to the hotel.”

  “Who are you here with?” they ask at the same time. Obviously, we’re not just hanging out on base for the holiday for the hell of it.”

  “Combs,” she says proudly.

  The guys nod and shift their eyes to me. “Reeves.”

  “And why are they not here helping you?” the taller guy asks.

  “Training.” I say the words a little more snarky than I intended, but I hate the thought of them thinking the guys left us to do this alone. Neither one of them would ever do that.

  “Right, let us help you,” the shorter of the two says. He doesn’t wait for permission before grabbing two handfuls of bags and lifting them from the cart.

  The other follows suit. “Lead the way, ladies.” He grins.

  Savannah starts walking, and I rush to catch up with her. “Do you think this is the best idea?” I ask, my voice a harsh whisper.

  “What? They’re being nice. They probably know the guys and just want to help.”

  “I don’t know, Savannah.”

  “It’s fine. We couldn’t do it on our own, and it’s not like we could have called the guys and asked them to come and get us. This is marine life,” she whispers back, calm, cool, and collected.

  I have a feeling the guys are not going to be impressed. Not that either of them have anything to worry about, but we’re here to see them, and these two, whoever they are, since we don’t have their names, were all too eager to help. I don’t feel unsafe, but something tells me that they’re not too worried about the fact that we’re here visiting our guys. Not in the least. I don’t say anymore as we make the short ten-minute walk back to the hotel. When I see Slade and Brandon walking up the front entrance at the same time as we do, my stomach rolls. I have no reason to feel this way, I know that, but from my past observation and experience, guys are jealous by nature. This can’t be good.

  “Hey, guys,” Savannah says as we walk up to them.

  “What’s going on?” Slade asks.

  “We went to the store but didn’t think about not being able to carry it all back to the hotel. These two,” she points over her shoulder, “offered to help.”

  “Thanks, man.” Slade reaches out to the taller of the two and takes the bags from his hands. Brandon does the same thing. “Let us take those.” His face is solid as stone, not giving anything away.

  “Thanks for your help,” Savannah says. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “You’re welcome. You have a nice holiday,” the shorter one says.

  “You guys have family coming in?” Brandon asks.

  “Nah,” they say at the same time.

  “Well, then you’ll have to join us,” Savannah chimes in. “We have plenty, and that’s the least we can do for you helping us.” I want to tell her to shut the hell up, that this is our time with the guys, but then I think about them being alone and away from family and friends, and my irritation fades just as quickly as it came on.

  “You sure?” the shorter one asks.

  “Positive.” She sounds so sure of herself.

  “You heard her,” Brandon adds. “I don’t know what they have planned, but you’re welcome to join us.”

  “Room number 2016,” she tells them mine and Slade’s room number. Slade raises his eyebrows in question, but says nothing.

  “What time?” the taller one asks.

  Savannah looks over at me in question. I turn to Slade and Brandon. “Eat early like one or late around five?”

  “One,” the guys say at the same time and laugh.

  “Looks like one,” Savannah answers.

  “Thanks,” the shorter one says.

  “We’ll see you tomorrow at one,” the other says with a wave, and then they’re gone.

  “Right, ladies, lead the way so we can get rid of some of these groceries.” Brandon laughs.

  The four of us make it up to our room, and the guys deposit the bags on the small counter. “What is all of this?” Slade asks.

  “Well, Savvy thought we should make Thanksgiving dinner, so we went to the store, and here you have it.” I chuckle, pointing to all the bags.

  “That’s a lot for four people,” Brandon tells her gently.

  “Well it’s a good thing there are now six of us,” she counters with a wink.

  “Actually, can we make it eight?” Slade asks. We all turn to look at him. “Jeffers and Spiller are both alone too. Their families can’t make it.

  “Eight it is. My only concern is places to sit and plates. We might need to make another trip to the store.”

  “No need,” Brandon says, pulling out his phone. “I’ll text them to bring pap
er plates and drinks. I’ll text Miller and Johnson too,” he says.

  “Miller and Johnson?” I ask.

  Slade just smiles and shakes his head. “The two guys you let carry the groceries.”

  “Ah,” I say sheepishly, the tension falling from my shoulders. I was worried that he was upset, but obviously, he’s anything but.

  “Come here.” He grins and holds his arms open for me. I waste no time walking into them, wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head against his chest. “I missed you,” he says softly, just low enough for me to hear.

  “You sure you have enough food?” I hear Brandon asks Savannah.

  “Yep, we went overboard. Let’s get this all put away, and we can tell for sure.”

  It takes us no time to get everything stored away and decide that we do indeed have plenty of food. “We need to start the turkey early,” Savannah says.

  “What time?”

  We’re eating at one, and my Internet search said it needs to cook at least six-to-eight hours. So around five.”

  “Why don’t we just order pizza in tonight, in our own rooms?” Brandon asks.

  “Great idea,” Slade says before either of us can answer.

  “I guess I’ll see you bright and early.” Savannah gives me a hug.

  We say goodbye and walk them to the door. Once they’re gone, Slade pushes me against the door, resting his palms flat against it over my head. “Four days, Austyn. I get you for four entire days.”

  “You do. Well, tomorrow you have to share me a little,” I goad.

  “I don’t like to share.”

  “Not even with me?” I ask coyly.

  “You don’t count,” he says.

  “So you’ll share your kisses with me?”

  He growls, bends, and places his hands on the back of my thighs and lifts me off the ground. I immediately wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. “They’re yours, angel. There’s nothing to share.” With that, he kisses me. It’s slow at first, but the grip he has on my thighs tells me he wants it to be anything but. He carries me to the couch, sits down, and I straddle his lap.

  “I can’t believe you’re really here,” he says once he breaks our kiss. His hand cups my cheek. “Or that I don’t have to leave you tonight.”

  “We should order food before we get carried away.” I’m nervous about tonight. Not because I’m afraid to be alone with him, quite the opposite. I want to be alone with him. I want more of his kisses, and I want where that leads us. I want it all with him. That has me a nervous wreck.

  “I have all I need right here,” he says, pressing his lips to mine. While it’s a chaste kiss, it does nothing to dampen the desire I have for him.

  “You want pizza or hoagie?”

  “Hoagie, sounds good right now.”

  “I’m thinking the same thing. A hoagie and breadsticks.” I lean forward to pull my phone out of my pocket, and he palms my ass.

  “Whatever you want,” he says, kissing my neck.

  I groan. “I’m trying to order our food.”

  “And I’m trying to devour you,” he counters.

  “There’s plenty of time for that.” Though to be honest, there’s nothing I want to do more than to wrap myself up in him. I need to keep my head though. At least for a little while longer.

  “Not really. Four days is not enough time. You know that right, Austyn?” His tone is serious. I move my eyes from my phone to his face. Warmth pools in my stomach. “Forever will never be enough time with you.”

  Setting my phone on the side table, I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. Food can wait. He’s right. We only have a limited amount of time. Why waste it?

  HOURS. I’VE BEEN KISSING HER for hours, letting my hands roam over her body, and I don’t want to stop. If I had my way, I’d never stop. Kissing her, touching her is my greatest pleasure in life. I plan to do nothing but this for the next four days.

  “We should eat something,” she says between kisses.

  “You hungry, angel?” I ask, my lips trailing down her neck. When her belly growls, I have my answer. Pulling back, I realize I’ve been selfish. In my need to kiss her as much as I can, to feel her in my arms, I’ve neglected her. What kind of guy doesn’t make sure his girl is fed?

  “I can see that look in your eyes, Reeves. I was just as into what we’ve been doing as you were. We just need to refuel before everything closes.”

  I grab her phone from the table; we never made it off the couch. “Hoagie, no onion with pickle for me,” I say, handing over her phone. She climbs off my lap, and I dig my wallet out of my back pocket and hand her my card. She shakes her head, but I hold it out for her. “Take it,” I whisper, as she starts to order our food. Reluctantly, she gives the person on the other line the number and then ends the call.

  “Let me get you some money,” she says, starting to stand.

  “No way. I’ve told you. I have the money that I earn here, which I spend very little of. I also have the interest off the money I invested from the sale of Gran’s house. I’m in good shape, Austyn. You’re a full-time student, working part-time. Let me do this for you.”

  Her face softens. “Thank you,” she says, leaning in for a quick kiss. “I’m going to go freshen up before the food gets here.” She stands and walks toward one of the bedrooms.

  I adjust my dick once she’s out of sight. I’m hard as nails, but the discomfort is worth it. I can’t seem to keep my hands off her, so I need to get used to it, at least while she’s here. We’ve never talked about going further, and even though I want to more than anything, it needs to be her choice. In the meantime, I’ll suffer through it.

  The food arrives, and we eat it on the couch. “How are classes?” I ask her.

  “Good.” She takes a sip of water. “This semester it’s been a constant struggle to focus, but I’m pushing though. I think it’s you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, you’re all I can think about. School just seems… not as exciting as it used to be.”

  “You like it still? Still want to be a teacher?” She shrugs, and my brows dip in concern. “Come on now, what’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

  “It’s nothing.” She waves me off.

  “It’s something. I want to know. Tell me,” I urge.

  “Well, I’m taking this design class as an elective and I really like it.”

  “Okay, what kind of design are we talking?”

  “Web design, like websites and some graphics like logos and stuff.”

  “That sounds interesting.”

  “It really is. I enjoy it.”

  “So, you want to switch your major?”

  “Crazy, right? I mean, I’m almost through this semester. It would be crazy to change now.”

  “I think that’s pretty normal, Aust. You’re doing general education now, right?”

  “Yeah, for the most part. I’ve taken two history classes that were for my teaching core, but other than that, just the basics.”

  “Then changing doesn’t sound so bad. It sounds to me now would be the time to do it.”

  “I know, but Savannah and I have always said we were going to be teachers. I feel like changing that now, after wanting it or for so long is wrong or something. Like I’m betraying some kind of friend pact,” she admits. “I know that sounds crazy, even to me.”

  “It’s okay to change your mind. Maybe she will too?”

  “I don’t know. She’s been off lately. I think being away from Brandon is getting to her. The first time around it was bad, but she knew when the thirteen weeks boot camp would be over, she would get time with him. This time’s longer, you know? I think it’s all just now sinking in how long of a time they will be apart. It’s affecting her.”

  “What about you?”

  When she stares down at the bottle of water in her hands, I swallow hard. “You know, it sucks to be away from you, but really, I feel this time apart means I’m getting to reall
y truly know you. Not just Slade the Marine, but you, the man behind all that.”

  I nod, and a lightness fills my chest. “You are getting to know me, the real me. I’ve never been anything but honest with you. Hell, you know more about me than anyone else.”

  A small smile lifts her mouth at my words. “I feel like this time will make us strong, you know? Not that Savvy and Brandon aren’t, because they are, but they’ve known each other our entire lives. They met as kids, and I just think… well, I think meeting now, in this way, has given us the opportunity to really dive into who we really are. While I don’t want to be away from you, I feel closer to you because of it. Does that make sense?”

  I love you. The words are on the tip of my tongue. That’s how she makes me feel, like my heart needs her to know she’s its owner. That she’s everything that is good in my life. “More than you know,” I say instead. “We’ve been together in person a handful of days, but the moment I saw you Monday night, it felt like we’ve been together for years.” It’s a struggle to not take her in my arms and tell her the words that are flashing through my mind. I finish off my bottle of water before I continue on. “I think you should go for it, Austyn.” I brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Do whatever it is that makes you happy. You shouldn’t settle.”

  “It’s something that I really like, and you know, I could work from home or anywhere.”

  My heart stutters at her words. “Is that what you want, ultimately, to be able to work from home?” She blushes a light shade of pink and tears at the label on her water bottle. “Angel,” I say softly. Her eyes find mine, and she looks…worried. “You can tell me anything.”

  “Okay, but it was just a thought, all right? I don’t want you to think that I’m trying to plan out anything or whatever….” Her voice trails off, and fuck, she looks fucking adorable as she chews on her bottom lip.

  “Just tell me.” I reach out and lace my fingers through hers. “There’s nothing you can’t tell me.” Her nerves zing between us, and I can’t help but think what ever she’s going to say will ruin me, or make us.

  “I was just thinking, not only do I really enjoy it, but working from home or remotely, I could… you know, move around a lot.” She pauses, waiting for my reaction. When I don’t say anything—I can’t since my heart’s in my damn throat—she forges on. “You know… wherever you might get stationed, I could travel to see you or… with you.” She all but whispers that last part.