Chapter 15 Andrew
“So, what did you think of Lakeside and Army Base?” Emily asks, her voice cutting through the silence. “I’m thinking that we should start the renovations with Army Base as it has the largest capacity.”
I stare out the window of the car as it glides through the city streets, trying to shake the lingering tension in my chest.
The Army Base Riviera was right next to a military base. One look at the rows of barracks, the hum of soldiers training, and it was like I was back in Afghanistan.
“I think…” I trail off, my throat tightening as I fight to focus. “Army Base has potential, but it’s going to need more work than Lakeside.”
Emily is sitting next to me, watching me carefully, but I keep my gaze fixed outside.
My mind is a minefield right now, littered with images I don’t want to revisit. The distant sound of boots hitting the ground, the grainy feeling of sand and dust clinging to my skin.
The memories rush at me, uninvited, like they always do when I’m caught off guard. I’m pissed off at myself for my lack of preparation.
The Army Base Riviera is named that way because it’s next to a military base. I should have known that would be a trigger.
“Andrew?” Emily's voice pulls me back slightly. She sounds concerned. I can feel her eyes on me, and I know I’m not doing a great job of hiding how rattled I am.
I clear my throat, forcing my voice to stay steady. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll sit down and go over the numbers later.”
Silence stretches between us for a moment. I can tell she wants to ask more, maybe push, but thankfully, she doesn’t.
I can’t handle that right now. All I can think about is getting home, getting out of this suit, and pounding out the memories on the treadmill until they disappear .
The car pulls into the driveway, and I’m out the door before the driver can even fully stop. Emily follows, but I don’t give her a chance to say anything.
“I’m going to the gym,” I say abruptly, not meeting her eyes. I can feel her confusion, her hesitation, but I don’t wait for her to respond. I just need to get away, need space to clear my head.
I make a beeline for my room, stripping off my suit and changing into workout gear like a man on a mission. Adrenaline pumps though me, the need to push myself to the limit, to drown out the chaos in my head.
The gym is a sanctuary. I hit the treadmill hard, the sound of my feet slamming against the belt matching the frantic rhythm of my heartbeat.
Every step is an attempt to shake the memories loose, to leave them behind where they belong.
Focus, Andrew. Don’t let this get to you. Not again.
I increase the speed, forcing my body to keep up. The burn in my muscles, the pounding in my chest—it helps. It’s the only thing that ever helps.
I can’t afford to fall apart. Everyone’s watching me. The Riviera project, my family, this ridiculous marriage to Emily—it’s all riding on me keeping it together.
PTSD isn’t going to ruin my life. I won’t let it.
After what feels like an eternity, the tension finally starts to ease. The memories fade to the background, replaced by the satisfying ache of overworked muscles.
By the time I step off the treadmill, drenched in sweat, my mind is clearer.
I grab a towel and head upstairs to take a shower, letting the hot water wash away the lingering tension. By the time I’m out and dressed, I’m feeling more like myself again.
The house is quiet. Emily isn’t here, and I find a note on the kitchen counter .
Popped out for a bit. Be back later.
It’s tempting to ask her where she’s gone, but I remind myself that she’s not my real wife. I have no right to care, no right to ask. This arrangement is just business, nothing more.
I head out to the back yard to play with Bear and Bruno.
Emily still hasn’t returned by dinner time, and a part of me is relieved. I’m still feeling off, and the last thing I need is to deal with awkward conversation.
I eat alone, the quiet of the house settling around me like a blanket, and by the time I finish, I’m more exhausted than I’d like to admit.
I head to bed, but sleep is elusive. My mind keeps pulling me back to the Army Base Riviera, to the military base next door. To the life I thought I’d left behind.
Every time I close my eyes, I’m back there. The smell of gunpowder, the heat, the constant threat. I toss and turn, trying to will the memories away, but they cling to me, seeping into my dreams.
At some point, I fall asleep, but it’s disturbed—jolting awake with the sound of explosions ringing in my ears. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to force my mind to calm down.
The next time I wake up, there’s a warmth pressed against me. My mind is still groggy, caught somewhere between the vivid dreams and the present, and it takes me a moment to realize there’s a soft body in my arms.
Emily.
My breath hitches, and I freeze, unsure of how or why she’s here, but I don’t let go. I can’t.
The familiar weight of the nightmares linger in the back of my mind, and without thinking, I tighten my grip, needing something—anything—to ground me.
She’s here, warm and real, and for the first time in hours, the tension starts to ebb .
I press my face into her hair, inhaling deeply. She smells like lavender, the same scent that’s been haunting me since we first met.
She shifts slightly, turning to face me, and her soft breath fans across my skin. It sends a jolt through me, something primal, something urgent.
“Andrew—”
I cut her off by sealing my mouth to hers. Her lips part under mine, yielding to the hungry desperation that simmers just below the surface.
She doesn’t respond at first and I’m about to pull back when her hands move to my shoulders her nails digging into my skin with a fierce need that mirrors my own.
The memories of war and trauma fade into the background, replaced by the raw, unbridled need coursing through me.
I push her back against the pillows, trailing kisses along her jawline, down her neck. Emily moans and arches her back as I move down her chest. I reach down and pull up her nightdress, until her breasts are bared to my eyes.
She’s so fucking beautiful.
I cup her breasts, feeling their weight and softness in my hands, the nipples hardening under my touch. I suck on one of them, feeling her shiver beneath me as I blow on it.
I then move down her body, kissing every part of her exposed skin. Her heart is beating so fast, I can feel it through her skin. My dick is so hard that it's painful. I want to be inside her, to feel that connection, that closeness. I need this, more than anything else right now.
I move lower, kissing her stomach, then trail kisses down to her hip.
I run my hands up and down her thighs, feeling the muscles tense and relax under my touch. She moans softly as I kiss my way down her inner thigh, slowly getting closer to my goal .
When I finally reach her pussy, I can feel the heat radiating from it. I press a soft kiss to her mound before slowly parting her folds with my fingers.
“Andrew,” she says in a pleading voice.
Hearing her say my name like that does something to me.
It makes me want to take her right there and then. Instead, I slip a finger inside her, feeling how wet she is for me. She moans loudly as I tease her with my fingers.
“Please,” she whispers again, and I groan at the sound.
Pulling my finger out, I spread her legs and arrange myself between then, then lower my head to her pussy.
Her scents of arousal waft up my nostrils and I inhale deeply before plunging my tongue into her core. A gasp rips out of her mouth and her hands grip my head.
I lap at her folds, savoring her every taste and texture.
Emily's hands tangle in my hair as she gasps in pleasure, her hips bucking against my face.
I slide another finger inside her as I suckle on her clit, feeling her muscles flutter around me. Her moans grow louder and more desperate as she nears the edge.
“Andrew,” she cries out, her nails digging into my scalp. “I'm going to...I'm going to come!”
Her release floods against my tongue, her sweet nectar coating my lips and tongue. I feel her shudder beneath me, her body wracked with pleasure as she cries out my name.
As her orgasm subsides, I kiss her inner thighs softly, trailing my fingers through the remnants of her release. I guide myself to her entrance and slowly thrust inside her, feeling her muscles constrict around me.
I want to go slowly but the demons inside me won’t let me.
I take her hard and fast, Emily’s nails digging into my back letting me know that we’re together .
“Andrew,” she moans, her name a hoarse whisper that sends a jolt through me. “I need more.”
I drive into her, burying myself to the hilt. I pull out and ram into her again. Emily wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me even deeper.
My mind is empty, save for the pleasure coursing through me and Emily’s tight pussy milking my dick.
Emily whimpers as my release builds up.
Her whimpers grow more desperate, her hands clawing at my back, urging me on.
“Andrew,” she gasps, her voice barely audible above the sound of our bodies slamming against each other. “I'm close.”
Her words set off a spark inside me, and I thrust harder, faster, feeling the pressure build until I can't hold back any longer.
“I'm going to come,” I grunt, my voice rough with need.
Emily's breath hitches as she cries out my name, her hands clutching at me tighter. “Andrew!” she says again, the urgency in her voice matching my own.
And then it happens. Her body flutters around me, pushing me over the edge. My release floods her, her muscles clamping down against me in response.
I feel as if I’ve run a three-thousand-mile race. Spent, I collapse besides Emily and pull her close. My eyes are heavy with sleep. There’s a thought nagging at me but I’m too exhausted to chase it. I give in to sleep.