Chapter 28
After two days of eating pizza and burgers, they decided to eat healthy and made chicken and vegetables. They were having sex every chance they got and working out, but Ansley still wasn't able to run without her leg hurting.
The hot tub was nice, and it felt good to soak her leg. Also, getting in the ocean helped with swelling and pain, though the water was cold.
Link came in from taking the trash out, and she stood and moved to the kitchen. "I got an email about doing some work with the state department."
“Really?”
She nodded. "Yes. I wouldn't have to move, but I'd have to travel probably two to three times a year when they have big meetings."
“Are you thinking of doing it?”
“I wasn’t sure at first, but it would be fairly easy money.”
“If you want it, I think it would be good. I’d be out of town more. You know, being in special forces, my schedule isn’t as predictable.”
It was one thing she didn’t like about his job, but it was a part of who he was. “I understand. It’s part of the job.”
“It is. And it allows me to have extra days off.”
"So, your place by Fort Bragg, does it have an alarm?"
“It does. When I first bought it, I didn’t have one, but then I was gone a lot of the time. I don’t want some idiot breaking in while I’m not home.”
“I think that’s one requirement that I’d absolutely need. With Pete out there, I don’t think I could really relax without an alarm.”
He moved to her and cupped her cheeks. “He didn’t send another email, did he?”
She shook her head. "No, I just don't want to live in fear of him breaking in. If there's an alarm, I'll know if someone broke in, and I'd hear the alarm sound if it's at night."
"I get that. Once we get back home, I'll make sure you have access to the application that shows you if the system is on or off. I was thinking of adding a security camera or two."
“You don’t have to get cameras.”
“I kind of want to. Just so I can see if anything happens in the yard. See if any deer come into the area, stuff like that.”
“Oh, that would be cool.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Also, I’d feel better knowing you were safe when I’m on missions.”
She nodded slowly, realization filling her. “So when we go back to your place…”
“Yeah?”
Her stomach tightened, and she raked her teeth over her lower lip. “I mean, we haven’t really talked about it directly, but we kind of beat around the bush. Am I, are we—”
“Are you asking if I want you to live there?”
She shrugged. “I don’t want to be presumptuous. I don’t have to live there.”
"Please don't get an apartment unless you want one. I mean, I know it's a lot. You just left the military, and your life is changing. Maybe it's too much to assume you'll move in with me."
She shook her head, happiness filling her. “No, it’s not too much. I just wanted to make sure I was reading this right. I like you a lot. I don’t want to push you into anything.”
He pulled her close and wrapped his strong arms around her. She could feel the beat of his heart against her hand that was on his chest. Her palm flattened against his strong muscles, and she knew this was right.
His voice was low, but filled with emotion.
"You aren't pushing me into anything. I have big feelings for you.
I want to spend my life with you. I don't know how that will play out, or if we can make it long term.
Maybe you want to travel or move somewhere else.
Me, I'll be stuck in Fayetteville for the foreseeable future. "
"It's close to DC. What, five or six hours? I could fly if I needed to or take a train. So it would work for me."
His lips spread into a wide smile that made his eyes softer. She felt like she could fall into his brown eyes and stay there forever.
No question, she'd fallen in love with this man. It happened so fast that it was frightening. She shouldn't be this into him, but she was.
Link wanted to spend his life protecting and loving Ansley. His heart felt so big and fragile in her hands. He knew that even though he was strong and could fight off the enemy, Ansley could easily crush him if she wanted to.
The realization made him feel vulnerable, but it also made him feel right. Being with Ansley gave him hope for a future. His job gave him purpose, but Ansley would give him life.
"I know this sounds crazy, and we haven't known each other that long, but Ansley, I've fallen for you.
You took me by surprise and grasped onto my heart, filling it with a softness I haven't experienced.
I don't know when I fell in love. Maybe it was our texts or phone calls, or maybe it was before then, but I love you. "
Her eyes grew shiny as tears filled them, and her lip wobbled as her fingers tightened their hold on him.
"Link, being with you is magical. It's sunshine and warmth even on the coldest days.
You are the one. My feelings for you grew in the moments we shared.
You're so caring and good. I love you. I don't ever want to be without you.
I mean, I know your job will take you away on deployments and missions. That's life in the military."
“I’m closer to retirement than not.”
“I don’t need you sitting beside me every day to be with you. We know what life in the military is like. I know you’ll be mine even if you’re half a world away.”
He cupped her cheek, his thumb sliding over her soft skin. “Always yours.”
“We can make a good life.”
“When I’m home, and we’re together, we’ll make the most of it.”
“I don’t want kids.”
He nodded. “I don’t think I ever thought I would have kids. I mean, my life was the military. I’m good with no kids.”
"Good. I mean, if it happened, I guess we would figure things out, but I don't want to make it happen."
He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “Ansley, I’m yours,” he whispered.
She opened for him, taking their kiss deeper. Her body was plastered against his, the rise and fall of her breasts pushing against his chest, driving him crazy. He wanted her nipples in his hands, pushing her closer to a mind-blowing orgasm. He loved watching her when she came.
He tugged off his shirt first, and she pulled at hers, raising it almost to her bra before he helped relieve her of it. Next was her bra, which was all the invitation he needed.
His lips were on her nipples, teasing her, increasing her desire. She gasped and squirmed against him as he played with her nipples. He loved how reactive she was. Without asking, he could tell how much she enjoyed their lovemaking.
When he slid one hand into her shorts, she gasped and arched against him. He was going to get her to come before he entered her. Then he would take her right here.
Ansley rocked her hips against Link's hand, increasing the pressure of his thumb. The man was amazing. He knew exactly how to tease her into a mind-blowing orgasm.
He pulled at her nipple with his teeth, sending sparks through her. The assault of his mouth on her nipples and his hand on her clit was enough to push her over the edge.
She gasped as she reached for his wrist, holding his hand in place as she pumped her hips, prolonging her orgasm.
Link chuckled, his breath warm on her neck. Then his lips were on hers, his tongue sliding in like he was fucking her mouth. The need to get naked and take him overrode everything.
“I need you,” Ansley gasped when the kiss ended.
He spun her to face the counter and shoved her pants low. His hard cock was at her entrance, pushing in, his hands holding her up, his lips at her ear whispering, “I love you.”
She shuddered, her knees almost giving out. He had her, so she didn’t drop. His loving arms held her up as he took her body higher.
The intensity of their lovemaking took her breath away, leaving her gasping as he filled her. His fingers were on her clit again, and she had little doubt that she was going to come again.
“Love you so much,” Link said against the side of her head as he pumped in, his hips slapping against her butt cheeks.
She felt him grow bigger, his cock impossibly hard inside her pussy, his fingers driving her closer to another orgasm. He was going to come, and she wanted to come, too.
“Love you,” she got out between gasps just before another orgasm took her breath away.
He pushed in and stilled, his body jerking against her as he came. They were both panting as he pulled out and turned her. His lips were on her as he gently caressed her body.
"Thank you. You are the best thing that has happened to me. I love you, Ansley."
His words made her throat close with emotion, and she felt tears fill her eyes. "Link, I love you so much."
They clung to each other, holding on tight. There would be weeks spent without him in her bed, but she could deal with that. They would make the most of their time together, because what they had was special.