CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER THREE
Saylor didn’t really know the couple that was getting married but she’d learned that everyone at Belle Fleur was family. Although it was a compound of sorts, it was completely different from where she grew up.
This was a place where people could come and go freely. They were smart, protective, wonderful people who didn’t hold secrets in bunkers. Yes, they carried weapons, and yes, they had them stored but it was known to everyone on the property why.
“You look beautiful, Saylor,” smiled Sor. “You look more like your Aunt Nell every day.” Her hair was in big waves down her back, the plum-colored dress complimenting her coloring perfectly.
“I’ll take that. I love being here. Have mom and dad called?” she asked.
“They have,” nodded Nell. “We will never lie to you about that. I told them that you and I kept in touch via email and they seemed surprised by that. Your mother said I wasn’t supposed to speak to you without her permission.”
“What did you say?” she frowned.
“I told her that you were an adult and could decide for yourself who you spoke to and when. I also told them that I believed you’d taken a job in your old home town in California.”
“Thank you, Aunt Nell. I hate that you have to lie to them but I just know if they could get to me, they’d force me to return to Nebraska.” Before Sor or Nell could respond, someone walked up to the table and nodded at them.
“Hello,” smiled a handsome man standing by their table.
“Remington! Great to see you, brother. How are you?” asked Sor. He stood, shaking his hand with a brotherly hug and back slap.
“I’m well, sir. And you?”
“We’re great.” Sor noticed Remington looking at Saylor and grinned. “Sorry, this is Nell’s niece, Saylor.”
“Sailor?” frowned Remington. “Like a Navy Sailor?”
“No,” she laughed. “Saylor with a ‘y’, not an ‘i’. It’s nice to meet you, Remington.”
“Nice to meet you. Would you like to dance?” he asked holding out his hand.
Saylor noticed the long, lean fingers and beautifully tanned skin. His eyes looked like the same color as her dress and his hair was in a dark top-knot on his head. But it was the uniform, heavy with ribbons and medals that made her swallow.
“I don’t have a lot of experience with dancing. I’m not very good,” she said standing, “but if you’re willing to risk your toes, I’d love to.”
“I think my toes will be just fine,” he said with what appeared to be a small grin.
Standing beside him, Saylor noticed he was much taller than she expected. He pulled her close, his hand gently placed at her lower back, the other holding her hand securely in his own, much larger one.
“How do you like Belle Fleur?” he asked. His voice was so deep and low, she felt the rumbling from his breast to her own.
“It’s wonderful. I’ve never been anywhere so magical in all my life. I’ve loved being closer to Aunt Nell and Uncle Sor. Did you grow up here?”
“I did. My entire family is here,” he said. “Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, and those I consider siblings and cousins. Everyone here is considered family. Are you visiting Nell and Sor?”
“Oh, no. I’m actually the new radiology tech. I’m working at the hospital here. It’s been wonderful. The doctors and nurses are simply some of the best I’ve ever seen.”
“So, you’ll be here for a while?” he asked.
“I will,” she whispered staring up at him.
“Good,” he said. She didn’t know why that have her chills but suddenly she was feeling chilled in a tent that was easily seventy-five degrees.
Saylor and Remington danced until the wee hours of the morning. He walked her back to her cottage and promised to pick her up for breakfast. And he did. Breakfast led to lunch and lunch led to walks in the garden and walks in the garden led to intimate passionate love making.
Saylor had minimal experience with men and certainly had never made love to a man before. It didn’t require her to think twice when Remington’s hands began to roam her body. Before she knew it, she was naked, he was naked and they were in his bed together.
“Have you been with another man?” he asked. Her face looked confused at first and he smiled. “Have you made love to a man before?”
“No,” she whispered. “But I know what happens and I know it will hurt. You appear larger than some of the male patients I’ve seen.”
Remington wanted to laugh out loud but didn’t dare. Her innocence appealed to him every way.
“I will not hurt you. You will stretch, and you will burn a bit, but I will not hurt you. Stop me if I do.”
Saylor nodded by she knew the moment they began their exploration, she would never ask him to stop. His big, callused hands stroked her body like a fine instrument, singing it’s song of satisfaction and joy.
“You are so damn beautiful,” he said stroking her cheek.
“So are you,” she said blushing. “Wh-what are you doing to my body?”
“Making it mine,” he growled, pumping into her harder and harder.
Saylor’s first orgasm was something she knew she would never forget. Their bodies seemed to fit lit puzzle pieces together, perfectly joined, perfectly cut to mold to one another.
To her surprise, their lovemaking didn’t stop. Every morning, every night, every moment they had together led to the two of them making love and Saylor was thrilled.
“You’re very, very good at that,” she smiled, staring up at him. They were both perspiring from the lovemaking but Remington just stared down at her, brushing back the hair from her face.
“I’m going to have to leave in a few days. Headed back to base and probably deployed somewhere,” he said. “You’ll stay here, won’t you?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she smiled hopefully. “Remington, where do you see this going? Us? I mean, do you want something steady? Do you want children?”
“I’m not sure what my future looks like,” he said rolling off of her and staring at the ceiling. “I’ve always been a bit of a loner. Children aren’t in the cards right now. It’s best that I’m alone while serving.”
“I-I see,” she stammered, her heart suddenly cracking open. “I need to shower and get to the hospital. I’ll see you at dinner.”
He nodded at her, wondering why she’d left their bed much too soon. Instead, he didn’t argue. Arguing wasn’t his style. He rose and got dressed and toward his parent’s cottage. But before he got there, he received a message from command demanding that he return ahead of schedule.
Remington had no time to tell Nell that he had to leave. Instead, he left a note simply saying he’d return soon and that she should take care of her herself.
Saylor tried not to read too much into it and when his own parents told her that he was forced to leave by the military, she tried to understand. But it was difficult. She’d never been in a situation like this before. Never dated a man or whatever it was they were doing.
Remington wasn’t a man given to just talk to talk. He said what was on his mind and that was it. But he hadn’t said much to her at all, and that worried her.
When no letters, no emails, no phone calls came, she knew in her heart that he’d changed his mind. The problem was now she had something to hide. Something that Remington could never know about.