Chapter Twenty-Two
Elise
My flight arrived in San Diego just after lunchtime on a hot Friday afternoon in July. John wouldn’t get to me until after he finished work, so I hailed a cab and went straight to the hotel to check in.
My fingers tremored as I signed the register and took the keys from the receptionist. It was the same hotel Constance and I stayed in when John graduated boot camp, so at least I knew my bearings. All I had to do was unpack, shower, make myself look pretty, and wait.
It had been a tough few weeks. I hadn’t coped well after John left. Add in his disappearing act and the news he gave me about his change of job, and I would put it down as one of the worst months we’d had since we’d started going out.
Still, I was here now. We’d gotten through it and were still together.
Coming here was all about reconnecting. We’d talk about John’s new position at some point, but I didn’t want to wreck the short time we had. John was under way more pressure than I was, and I was determined to support him whatever happened. I wanted to make the most of the small moments we could be together.
John told me he’d be by around seven, so I made sure I was ready by six-thirty and went down to wait at reception. If he came up to meet me in our room, I suspected we wouldn’t leave it again. The thought of being with him that way again made my toes want to curl up, but I also wanted to talk, laugh, and have fun before we fell into bed.
The sound of tailpipes caught my ear as I waited outside the hotel’s reception. I knew it was John. I could feel him burning through me already. I didn’t need to touch him to feel close; even being in his vicinity affected my skin, my bones, and even my soul.
Sure enough, a flash of metal and green appeared on the horizon, and the distinct pop-pop-popping of a Harley sounded in the distance.
I closed my eyes and breathed it all in: the sea air, the delicate blooms, and the anticipation of John, before peering down the road to watch him approach. He’s always been a magnificent sight, and whenever he came into my line of sight, he never ceased to take my breath away.
Smooth as hot butter, he stopped his bike a few feet away from me, taking off his helmet before finally dismounting.
My breath caught in my throat as I studied John’s long-legged, lean-hipped body, which had grown even bulkier than before. He looked like a movie star in his Ray-Bans, flashing his white-toothed smile through the golden hue of his tan.
A warm, happy glow spread through me. John was so beautiful, and it made my knees weak to know all that beauty belonged to me.
He raised a hand and took off his Ray-Bans, gold eyes flashing in the warm evening sun. His stare ran from my head to my toes, heating my skin as it went. He stalked toward me, taking me in, noting all the small changes.
My hair had grown out since I saw him last. I’d played around with my style, evolving from sweet Rydell High Sandy to leather-clad, pink lady Sandy—instead of sporting tight, black leather pants, though, I’d gone for tight, black jeans. My hair was big and full of bouncy curls, and my leather jacket covered a black, lacy camisole.
“Christ,” he muttered. “You look like a dream, better than a dream, Elise. You’re a knockout.” He reached out, tagged my waist, and pulled me hard and close to his body. The kiss, when it came, was hard, passionate, and thigh-clenching.
My fingers curled onto his arms, holding on for dear life as his mouth ravaged mine, and I let out a soft moan.
John’s lips left mine, and he raised his head, gold locking with green. “Food, talk, bar, bed, Duchess. In that order. Keeping my damned hands off you tonight will be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I’ve made plans for us to meet with Spence and his girl.”
My stomach fluttered, and I breathed, “Okay.”
His eyes softened, and his lips twitched with humor. “Need you to know. If the night runs away with us and I forget to tell you. I’ve never loved anything more than I love you.”
My eyes misted over, and I whispered, “Wow.”
John nodded toward his Harley. “You ready to reclaim the place you belong, on the back of my bike? I’ve missed my girl being there.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” I murmured, taking his hand and following him toward his motorcycle.
John threw his leg over, all the while keeping hold of my hand before helping me on behind him. Then, he leaned back, grabbed my thighs, and pulled me so close I could feel his heat sinking into me.
He craned his neck, a small smile playing around his lips, and cocked an eyebrow. “Ready, baby? You, me, and the road?”
Our eyes locked, and I swallowed down the burn rising in my throat.
A feeling hit me, and I knew deep down inside that we’d never have this moment again. Monday, I’d go home, and we’d be back to letters and snatched calls. I knew it was selfish, but God help me; I never wanted this visit to end.
I smiled, nodded, and rested my cheek on his back, and felt my soul clicking into place as it recognized I’d come home. Then I whispered the exact words I’d said a hundred times before.
“I’m ready, Johnny. Ride free.”
John took me to a small diner on the outskirts of town. It was local to Camp Pendleton and wall-to-wall uniforms. We found an empty booth and slid in—John next to me—immediately falling into our routine of catching up with everything going on in each other’s worlds.
It was so easy with John. There were stretches of silence while we drank each other in, but they weren’t filled with awkwardness; they were filled with something softer.
He caught one of my curls, his golden eyes softening as he rolled it gently between his fingers. “Love your hair like this, Leesy. You’re growin’ up so fucking sexy. I dunno if I wanna show you off or lock you up and throw away the key.”
I caught my lip between my teeth. “Thanks. I think.”
He busted out laughing, his beautiful tan face lighting up. “You’re gettin’ kind of lippy, Elise, but I find I don’t much care. In fact,” he swooped down, touching his mouth to mine before going back to his cheeseburger, “I’m thinkin’ I kind of like it.”
Popping a French fry in my mouth, I chewed for a second, contemplating his words. “We all grow up, John. You left me a girl, but you’ll come home to a woman. Even after just a year, I can feel how much I’ve grown and changed.”
His gaze flicked over me, his lips twitching. “You’ll always be my Leesy. Eighteen or eighty, you’re mine. As for growing and changing, it’s good, but I don’t want you to change too much.”
My belly did a little whoosh, and I burrowed a little closer, taking in the feel of him next to me.
Another moment, another memory, something else to warm me at night when he was off, God only knew where, but certainly not with me.
I watched as he polished off his food and wiped his mouth with a napkin. It was the ordinary, everyday things I missed the most: eating dinner together, watching him leave after he dropped me off, and his arm siding across my shoulders as he laughed with Stevie in the coffee shop.
Moments.
“You finished, baby?” he asked, nodding to my plate.
“Yeah.” I smiled.
He threw some cash on an empty plate on the table, grabbed my hand, and tugged me to my feet. “Let’s jet.”
The entire weekend was a whirlwind.
Friday night, we went to a pool bar, and I met Spence and his pretty, sweet, red-haired girlfriend, Ally. Saturday, the four of us spent the day at the beach. Ally and I sat in our bikinis, watching the guys kick a soccer ball around with their shirts off.
It was glorious.
At sundown, the guys went off to find food, and we stayed at the beach and ate dinner together. A small group of college students hung out a few feet from us. They shared their campfire, and we toasted marshmallows for s’mores.
Spence kept us entertained with his dry wit. I clutched my sides half the night at his stories of boot camp and how their sergeant kept catching them at inopportune moments—usually when they were up to no good.
We rode around on John’s motorcycle, and I loved it, mainly because it connected us physically, and I could wrap my arm around my man while I plastered myself to his back. There was no feeling like the one of his body shaking with laughter whenever I tipped my head back, feeling the wind whipping my cheeks and letting out a loud whoop.
It was the best weekend of my life.
Sunday morning, John left me in bed while he went to the store to stock up on snacks and soda. After that, we only moved from the bed to the shower, and even that was together.
We only had the day and night left. John had to be back on base at 07:00, and my flight left just before noon. The thought of losing this, of losing him again, made me ache, but I pushed it to the back of my mind to concentrate on the here and now. I didn’t want to feel the hurt, not until after, anyway.
The weight from John’s arm pinned my waist, and I sighed contentedly.
We’d never slept together before, not for the entire night. Now I had two under my belt and another one to come later. There was something intimate about sleeping next to the man I loved. Waking up to his magnificent heat, smiling as he played with my hair and circled patterns on my shoulder, was something I knew I’d cherish forever and never take for granted.
“Babe,” John whispered, nuzzling my nape from his position behind where he spooned me. His hand delved into my hair, and he pulled my face around, touching his mouth to mine.
I melted, every bone turning to mush. Slowly and languidly, I turned my body until I faced John head-on, never once breaking our kiss. My fingers slid up his chest to his shoulders, and I held on tight.
His lips released mine, and he pulled back slightly before dropping his forehead on mine. Strong fingers played with my hair, and he angled my face up, staring deep into my eyes.
“The world’s gone bonkers, Duchess,” he murmured. “Chances are, I’m gonna get caught up in the craziness for a while. I’ve made provisions for you, just in case.”
Darkness slid through my chest, and my lungs seized. “Don’t say that, John.”
“Babe,” he crooned. “I’m a Marine. We gotta have these conversations, and I need to tell you everything. I’m not sure you’ll like what I have to say, but I’ve gotta be honest ‘cause God knows I haven’t been entirely truthful up to now. I was tryin’ to protect you, but you don’t need protectin’ as much as you need the truth, so here goes.” He paused, relaxed his shoulders, and continued, “My new MOS is part of the Infantry, but it goes further, too. Remember I told you my instructors were impressed with my shooting skills?”
I jerked a nod.
“They singled me and Spence out to join another department. I’ve trained to be a Scout Sniper. Do you know what that means?”
My eyebrows drew together. “You’re a marksman?” It was more a question than an answer.
“Yeah,” he confirmed. “But a specialized one. Me and Spence are trained to take people out. He’s my spotter, and he supports my position when I take individuals out.”
A pain curled in my belly, my eyes darting between his questioningly. “Is it dangerous?”
One side of his mouth hitched. “No more or less dangerous than being any infantry Marine. Our military is the best in the world. Our technology, our firepower, and our know-how have caused the face of war to change. It’s not like ‘Nam now. Our skirmishes are more tactical and thought out.”
My forehead furrowed as I tried to get my brain around what John was saying. “When do you start this job?”
He studied my face. “Two weeks ago. So far, Spence and I have undertaken three missions since then. All successful. We get put in, we watch, we learn, we take them out, and we get the fuck outta dodge. It’s highly organized, and we’re well looked after.”
Suddenly, his words all came together, and everything became clear. “You kill people?”
He nodded decisively.
My hands found his, and my fingertips trailed over his thumb. It dawned on me what these hands could do, the destruction they wrought, and the lives they took. It seemed far removed from John, like fire and ice. These hands that gave me so much love and so much pleasure also wreaked death.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” I inquired softly.
John shrugged. “The pass rate in training is forty-four percent, and it would’ve been pointless if I failed. Then I succeeded, and it wasn’t something I wanted or was even able to talk about over the phone or in letters. I got you out here to see you and to tell you everything. If things kick off in the Middle East, I want you prepared for all eventualities.”
“Okay.” I lifted my knee, rolling up on top of John until I straddled him. “Thanks for telling me.”
Confusion twisted his face. “Don’t you wanna talk about it?”
“Yep,” I murmured, lowering down to take his bottom lip and suck gently before releasing it with a soft pop. “But not now.”
“Leesy—”
I touched my fingertips to his lips. “I wrote to you months ago and told you there’s nothing you can do to hurt me except not be honest. You lied by omission, but we’ve got one night left, and I don’t want to spend it arguing. We will have a conversation, John, and you probably won’t like what I have to say, but it’ll keep until you’re home next. Thank you for telling me, it was better late than never, but as for the rest, we’ll discuss it another time.”
John’s eyebrows hit his hairline. “Christ.”
I cocked my head. “What’s he got to do with it?”
His hands moved around my back to hold me still. Then John did an ab crunch until his face hovered inches from mine. The eyes I loved so much turned to liquid molten gold, and his fingers loosely gripped the back of my hair. “Elise fuckin’ Bell. The next time anybody—including Bandit— suggests you’re not strong enough to be an ol’ lady, I’m gonna tell ‘em about this moment and laugh in their faces. You’re soft, sweet, shy, and kind, but underneath, you’ve got an iron will.”
His hardness grew beneath me, making me squirm a little. I wriggled my ass, reaching down to take his hard length.
Strong hands went to my ass, and he pulled me closer, sliding deep inside.
My pussy fluttered around him, and I whispered, “John,” pushing my face into his neck.
His fingers dug into my ass, holding me still as he thrust up hard inside me, going deeper than ever before. His face dipped, catching my nipple in his mouth, and he sucked hard.
A bolt of electricity zapped from my breast to my pussy. I clenched around John’s cock, and he let out a loud groan.
I’m a sure-footed man, Leesy,” he rasped. “But every insecurity I’ve got revolves around you. Can you handle my life? The club? Are you too good for it for me? Thank God you prove me wrong every time. It makes me settle, Leesy. D’ya get me?”
I nodded with my face still mushed into his throat.
“Gonna fuck you hard,” he announced huskily. “Then we’re showering again, then I’m gonna eat you for the first time. Been hankerin’ for a taste of you but was in two minds if you’re ready for everythin’ I’ve got to give. But the world’s changin’, baby, and we’ve gotta roll with it. No more holdin’ back.”
I pulled away from his neck, sinking deeper, and stared him in the eye. “No more holding back.”
His hips thrust upward again, and my back arched, my head tipping back. Then he was on my throat, licking, sucking, and kissing every inch of soft skin. “Jesus, Leesy. You’re my heart.”
My heart fluttered again along with my pussy, and I whimpered as John drove up into me. My walls began to clench, and I felt John swell inside me, preparing to orgasm.
Then he stilled. “Jesus,” he muttered. “Forgot the wrap.”
He bucked his hip, throwing my body to one side, and reached over to the nightstand. Nabbing a condom out of the box, he ripped it open with his teeth and slipped it on. “That was close,” he said, reaching for me. Suddenly, I was flipped onto my tummy, and I squealed as John’s hand cupped my stomach and pulled me up to my knees.
My back arched as he drove inside me from behind and muttered, “Jesus, fuck, you’re tight.”
I craned my neck to watch him over my shoulder.
His jaw clenched, and the veins in his neck popped out as he threw his head back and fucked me deeper. “I’m close, baby,” he rasped, and then his finger pressed against my clit, a direct hit.
I whimpered, “Oh my God,” and my orgasm punched through me, catapulting me into the stratosphere. My nails dug into the bedsheets, and I felt him buck one last time, keeping me in place while his hips ground into me. Every nerve-ending tingled, and my blood roared through my veins as I moaned and writhed, milking every sensation for all it was worth.
My comedown was slow and sweet, the aftershocks making my heart dance. Strong arms banded around me, and John pulled me close, kissing the top of my head.
I opened my eyes, twisting my head to look at him, and murmured, “Wow.”
His chin moved, probably due to the fact he was grinning broadly. “Wow fuckin’ indeed.”
Snuggling closer, I smiled lazily. Suddenly, I was airborne. I landed across John’s shoulder with a squeak as he stood from the bed and swatted my ass. “Shower time.”
I burst out laughing, shocked at the speed he’d accosted me. “You’re wild.”
He strode into the bathroom, switched on the shower, and gently placed me on my feet. His gaze met mine, and he took my hands in his. “You get me that way, Elise. We miss out on so much and make so many sacrifices. We gotta take the good times and hold onto ‘em through the bad. Being young and wild’s a part of that. We’ve got to live, baby. We gotta whoop it up whenever we can.”
We showered, and after John ate me out (as promised), I lay in bed, splayed across his muscular chest, studying his beautiful face as he played lazily with my hair.
“It’s gettin’ harder each time to say goodbye,” he croaked.
Tears flooded my eyes. “I know.”
“I’m sorry for putting us through this.” He cupped my face and gently swiped my tears away with his thumb.
“It’s okay,” I breathed. “Please, just come back to me.”
“I’ll always come back to you, Duchess. The Devil himself couldn’t keep me away. I promise one day, we’ll do everything we said: build the club, a home, and a family. No power exists on this earth that can keep me away from you.”
He leaned forward and gently kissed me. Then he put his hands under my pits and dragged me up, arranging me so we were joined from chest to hip.
“I want you one more time, baby.” His hands framed my face. “I don’t wanna sleep, just wanna make the most of the time we’ve got.” He leaned down and gently kissed my lips.
I smiled against his mouth, reaching for my man.
And again, it was glorious.