“Will the glue hold up on the boat?”
Lark laughed and said, “The rip tides are so strong here. I can’t tell you how many times we got pulled out on our boards and my mother freaked. One good toss and I think we’re good.”
I nodded my head and smiled. “Ready?”
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life,” he said as he placed his hand on the side of my face and gently rubbed his thumb back and forth.
I nodded and he dropped his hand and took a step back as he reached back and then gave the bottle a good throw. I couldn’t believe how far he threw it out there. I did a little jump when it landed in the water. Lark slipped his arm around my waist and we stood there for I don’t how long, just staring out to the ocean in silence.
When Lark finally talked I jumped. “I’m sorry baby, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I shook my head and turned to face him.
“I love you,” I said as the sound of the waves crashed onto the shoreline.
He smiled and said, “I love you, too.”
I crinkled up my nose and said, “I’m kind of hungry. I didn’t eat very much at dinner. Nerves I guess.”
Lark let out a sigh and said, “My oh-so-romantic girl.” He tapped my nose and laughed. “I know a great place where we can go and sit and grab something light, maybe a glass or two of wine.”
The rest of the evening was spent in a wonderful seafood restaurant where we drank a bottle of wine, talked about the restaurant, me possibly moving some things over to Lark’s place and him doing the same. Lark mentioned wanting to wait a bit more before we talked about getting engaged, which I agreed on. Even though we had known each other a year, we were really just starting this relationship. We talked about everything—except Lark’s job.
The restaurant had a small outdoor patio and Lark stood up and asked me to dance as “Come a Little Closer” by Dierks Bentley began playing.
The way he was holding me, I knew he was beginning to say good-bye. My heart began breaking knowing that we would be leaving to head back home first thing tomorrow morning. I held onto him tighter as we danced in silence.
When the song ended he looked down at me and said, “Let’s go. I want to make love to you all night.”
I rolled over to see the clock read five in the morning. I moved my hand to find an empty spot next to me. I sat up quickly expecting to see a rose sitting on the pillow. I let out the breath I was holding when I didn’t see one. I got up out of bed and made my way downstairs. I stopped on the landing when I heard Lark talking in a hushed voice.
“I told you, I’ve got it together. No, she isn’t a distraction and I can handle it. Have I ever not finished a mission or put any other soldiers’ lives in danger?”
My heart started pounding. I took a step back. I knew I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but I was frozen.
“Yes sir, I know. No sir, I won’t.”
His voice was so cold and distant it reminded me of the guarded Lark from a year ago.
“It’s never interfered with my job before, Skip, so why are you making it a big deal? I’ll fuck whomever I want to fuck.”
I put my hand over my mouth. For him to say that after what we shared the last couple of days hurt. I knew he was upset and didn’t mean it the way it was coming out. I decided I was making it worse on myself to stand here and listen.
“The flight plan to South America is set. Yes.”
I froze. South America?
“I’ve been watching the videos. Carlito Vazquez doesn’t travel anywhere without a large security detail.”
Who was Carlito Vazquez? Lark’s voice sounded odd.
“Skip, don’t worry. I only need one shot to take the guy out. Just let me do my job.”
Oh God. Oh God no. I quickly turned and made my way back up to the master bedroom and crawled into bed. I was shaking from head to toe.
Lark’s a…sniper? Is this what he does in the Marines? Kills people?
I heard him walking down the hall, and I closed my eyes tightly. I couldn’t face him right now. I needed to let this sink in and try to decide if I was going to talk to him about it.
When I felt him sit down on the bed, I held my breath. He let out a sigh and I could picture him running his hands down his face.
My heart was beating so loudly I was sure he could hear it. Then he talked.
“I hate doing this,” he whispered as he lay down and wrapped his arms around me. I slowly let out the breath I was holding, but I stayed perfectly still.
He hated doing what? Leaving? His job? Keeping this life a secret? I had so many questions I wanted answered, but I also remembered when we first started this relationship he warned me. I promised myself I wouldn’t ever push him for answers, but news of all of this was weakening my resolve.
I closed my eyes and after picturing Lark doing his job over and over in my mind, I finally fell asleep.
After heading to my apartment and changing out of my uniform, I made my way down to my bike. I couldn’t stop thinking about this latest mission. We had no luck in finding our target and the stress was beginning to take its toll on Skip. I knew Azurdee was meeting the contractor at the restaurant around two. One quick look at my watch and I high-tailed it out of the parking garage and made my way to Wimberley.
I pulled up next to a BMW. I saw Azurdee’s new Toyota 4-Runner parked near the front of the restaurant. I put my helmet down on my bike and made my way over to the front entrance.
I walked in and smiled as I looked at how much work had been done. All the natural wood just screamed out Azurdee. One look to my right and I saw the kitchen. I walked over and looked and shook my head. “Hell of a lot bigger than the coffee shop.”
I looked around and called out, “Azurdee?”
A young guy came walking out and smiled at me. “You must be Lark.”
He reached out his hand and I extended mine. “Yes sir, I am.”
“The name is Ralph. I work for Dee.”
Shit. Not another person who called her Dee. I tilted my head and asked, “Dee?”
He laughed, “Azurdee. I shortened it ‘cause I’m lazy.”
I looked him up and down. He was built, but not as big as me. He was preppy, but a good-looking guy for sure.
“Stop eyeing me, Lark. I’m gay.”
I instantly relaxed and I could tell Ralph knew by the smile on his face.
“But that asshole out there. He won’t stop asking her out.” Ralph pointed behind me. I turned and looked at the sea of glass that faced the back outdoor patio. The creek was right below; Azurdee had gone on and on about the views and she was right. It was beautiful.
“Really?” I asked as I started to walk to the door that led outside.
“Yep. Pushy fucker.”
I smiled and made a note that Ralph was for sure on my side and one of the good guys. “Thanks for the heads up, Ralph. Looks like I’m gonna have to show him she’s mine.”
Ralph laughed and said, “I’m just glad you’re back. She needs to be laid. She’s been a moody bitch.”
I snapped my head to look at him but he had turned and started back to the door he came out of.
I let out a laugh. Ralph isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
I opened the sliding door and made my way out. Azurdee was talking to the asshole and began laughing as she shook her head. Her laugh instantly moved through my body and brought my dick to attention. When I saw him place his hand on her arm, I could see her body tense up.
“Mi amor,” I said as I moved closer. The ass dropped his hand as Azurdee looked over at me. The smile that spread across her face was one I always wanted to see on her face when I’d been gone for so long.
She practically ran into my arms. When she slammed her body against mine, she whispered, “I was so worried.”
I looked at the fucker was who now glaring at me and gave him a slight smile. “You never have to worry, mi amor. I’ll always come back to you.”
She pulled back and wiped a
tear away. I was confused as to why she was so emotional.
She cleared her throat and said, “I’m so sorry. Dan, this is my boyfriend, Lark Williams. Lark, this is Dan Jons. He’s the contractor.”
I held out my hand and when he shook it, I might have squeezed harder than I should have.
I looked back down at Azurdee and asked, “Are you about done? A week away from you is too much to stand. I need to hold you…soon.”
Her face blushed and she nodded her head as she looked at Dan. “Is there anything else we need to talk about?”
He shook his head and said, “Nah, I think we covered everything. I think we’re looking at another month, month and a half if we run into anymore problems.”
Azurdee did a little jump and clapped her hands. “Perfect. You can reach me on my cell if you need anything.”
He nodded his head and began walking back into the restaurant as I watched him retreating away.
Fucker.
I turned to look at Azurdee and she slammed her body back into mine and pulled my lips down to hers. She kissed me like she hadn’t seen me in years. When she finally pulled back I let out a laugh. “You missed me, I take it?”
She closed her eyes and said, “More than you know. Please take me home. I need to be with you. I need to know I’m not dreaming.”
“I’m on my bike. I’ll follow you.”
She nodded her head. “No, we can pick my car up later. Let’s go.” She walked back into the restaurant and I followed. She grabbed her purse and yelled out, “Ralph, I’m out of here.”
Ralph called out, “Thank God! I was about to do the deed myself. Get it girl.”
Azurdee laughed as I shook my head. Bastard is lucky he’s gay.
We walked up to my bike and she turned and winked at me as her cheeks were covered in a beautiful rose color. I smiled knowing what she was thinking about. I got on the bike and handed her a helmet. “You want another round?”
She got on behind me and said, “Not now. I just want to go home.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon making love. A quick trip to grab pizza for dinner, and we were back at her house and I was making love to her in the bathtub. I couldn’t get enough of her. Azurdee woke me up with soft kisses around nine in the morning. “I made you breakfast. Your favorite, French toast. I need to go get my car.”
I nodded and got myself up and dressed. After eating breakfast we made our way back to the restaurant. We pulled up and Azurdee asked if I wanted to take a tour of the place. I nodded. “Of course I do.”
When we walked in she leaned over a counter and hit a button and music started playing. As we walked around the restaurant she pointed out everything. From where the extra linens would be kept to where the flour was going to be stored. I could hear the excitement in her voice and I was surprised at how it filled my own heart with happiness.
“Give me two seconds to run to the restroom and then we can leave.”
I nodded my head and walked to the middle of the restaurant and sat down on a chair that was in the middle of the room. When “Give It 2 U” began playing, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Damn girl. You got some Robin Thicke playing. What must the workers think?” I called out.
I felt her hands move down my chest as she put her lips on my neck. “Do you want me to give it to you?”
I dropped my head back and looked up at her. “Oh baby…I always want you to give it to me.”
She smiled and walked around me and stood in front of me. She began dancing as she started to take off her shoes and then her pants. I watched as she moved her hands up and down her body and moved to the beat of the song. I quickly unzipped my pants and pulled them down.
She was biting down on her lips as she straddled me.
“Are you ready for my cock?” I asked as she sucked in a breath of air.
She slowly slid her hand down and touched herself. She began panting faster as I grabbed my dick and began stroking it. Her eyes widened as she watched me. “Does it turn you on to watch me play with myself?” I asked her as she looked into my eyes. She nodded her head and I said, “Tell me.”
She moved closer to me as she looked down at my hand still stroking my dick. “It turns me on to watch you play with yourself.”
I dropped my hand and grabbed her hips. The song changed and “Not Myself Tonight” by Christina Aguilera began playing. “You certainly have good taste in music, baby.”
I held her right above me. She was practically pushing herself against me.
“Fuck me, Azurdee. Fast and hard.”
I brought her down and filled her body in one quick movement.
“God yes!” she cried out as she began moving up and down faster. “Feels…so…good.”
The little sounds she was making were pushing me over the edge and I had to fight like hell not to come.
“Yeah…so close,” she called out as her moans echoed throughout the restaurant. I loved seeing her like this. I knew there was a side of her that liked our rough play and it turned me on so much. She was the perfect mixture of naughty and nice.
“Faster,” I said as I grabbed her hips and she rode the fuck out of me.
“God. Yes. Lark. I’m going to come. Oh God….Oh God!” She began screaming out my name like never before. She dropped her head back and called out, “Yes!” She snapped her head forward and smiled as she slowed down and moved against me. She was driving me crazy.
“Azurdee,” I whispered as I felt my own orgasm begin to build.
It didn’t take me long to let out my own cries of pleasure when one of the most intense orgasms of my life ripped through my body. When her lips pressed against mine I held her tightly and poured myself into her. I could almost feel the love moving between us.
When she finally stopped moving, we were able to catch our breath. “Jesus Christ, Azurdee. You are going to drive me over the edge one of these days.”
“That felt amazing.”
Then I heard someone clear their throat. “I would hope so. I heard you calling out his name from the damn parking lot.”
Azurdee snapped her head up and screamed. “Ralph! Get out of here! Now!”
I closed my eyes and cursed myself for letting her fuck me here. A dark parking lot was one thing, but not the restaurant where anyone could walk in at any time.
“Hey, it’s not like I’ve never seen a va-jay-jay before. Hold your horses, I’m heading to the back office. Better hurry though. Danny boy is not too far behind me.”
I pushed her off of me and reached down for her pants and tried to help her put them on.
She pushed my hands away and said, “Jesus, you’re making it harder to get them on. Just let me do it, please.”
I pulled up my zipper and reached down for her sandals and handed them to her as she zipped up her pants. She slipped on her sandals and then attempted to fix her hair.
I smiled and pulled her to me. “You look beautiful with your just-fucked glow on your face.”
She blushed and the door to the restaurant opened. She quickly turned away and walked to the front again and reached under the counter and stopped the music. Dan said, “Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you here this morning. Would you like to grab breakfast?”
That motherfucker. He obviously didn’t see me standing in the middle of the damn restaurant. Looks like I didn’t make myself very clear yesterday.
“Oh…um…well I…” Azurdee was still flustered from Ralph. I walked up to her and grabbed her hand.
I gritted my teeth together and decided to put his ass straight. “She just had breakfast—a good hard fucking in her new restaurant. I’d appreciate it if you’d stop asking my girlfriend out or we’ll be finding another contractor.”
Dan’s mouth dropped open and he was shocked as shit. I felt triumphant…until I looked at Azurdee, who was giving me a dirty look.
“I’m ready to leave now,” she said through gritted teeth.
She turned and made her way
outside. Once she walked outside I walked up to Dan and got right in his face.
“She’s mine. I suggest if you want to keep your hands from being broken you stop asking her out. Do we understand each other?”
He nodded his head and turned away from me and headed to the kitchen area.
I took a deep breath and made my way outside. Azurdee was leaning against her car and when I walked up she pushed me and then punched me in the arm.
She yelled out, “What in the fuck was that about?”
“What?”
She placed her hands on her hips and said, “What? What! You just told him we fucked in there, Lark! You just told him we fucked and then you threatened to fire him! Do you know what it took for me to get him in the first place?”
I felt the anger build inside my body. “No Azurdee, tell me what it took for you to get him. Maybe a promise of some sort. He sure seems fixated on going out with you.”
Her mouth dropped open. “How dare you. I can’t even believe you would say that.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m just angry that he asked you out after I made it clear yesterday that we were together.”
She slowly shook her head and said, “Lark, I can handle myself. I’ve had guys come onto me before and I’ve been able to deal with it just fine.”
“You’re mine now, Azurdee.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to go off and tell someone working for me that we just fucked. Or to say you’re going to fire him. Lark, this is my business. You have to trust me like I trust you with yours.”
I ran my hand through my hair and nodded. I knew she was right. “I’m sorry. This jealousy thing is all new to me. I guess I didn’t handle that well.”
“Ya think?”
I walked up to her and wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer to me. “I promise not to act like a total ass next time.”
She looked at me as she raised her eyebrow. “I trust you. You have to trust me.”
“I do trust you. I just don’t trust all the fuckers out there who want in your pants.”
She smiled and said, “Well, what’s inside these pants only belongs to you, so don’t worry.”
Unconditional Love Page 21