Elise

by Angela Rush

  “I only have one bag.” Elise tells him as they head toward the carousel to get her bag. Once her bag is collected, they head out to the parking lot to his truck. Elise notes Warren has a nice Toyota Tundra 4 door extended cab 4-wheel drive pickup. He helps her inside and makes sure she buckles her seatbelt before he heads around the front of the truck and climbs into the driver’s seat. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to his apartment. On the drive she tells him all about her therapy sessions and her parent’s over the top hovering. Deadeye is glad she can laugh about her parent’s attitude instead of crying. He knows they love her, but they can’t see how they are hurting her by treating her like a child instead of a woman.

  “You need to call them and let them know where you are as soon as we get home.” Deadeye glances over at her then back at the road. “They will be worried about you, sweetheart.”

  “I know, Warren. I left them a note, but I will call them.” Elise assures him. “I know they mean well, but honestly I just can’t take them hovering over me every second. I need some breathing room. I need someone to treat me like an adult, not some child that is about to fall apart any second.”

  Deadeye reaches over and takes her hand in his much larger one. Their fingers intertwine and he lifts them to his lips and places a kiss on the back of her hand. She smiles at him as he spares her a quick glance before focusing on the road again.

  “I should warn you. Charlotte will be at my apartment tomorrow.” Deadeye warns her. “She was ecstatic when I called Hawk to tell him I needed tomorrow off and why.” He grins at her as she turns to look at him.

  “Warren! I don’t want you taking off time for me. I’ll be fine while you are working.” Elise scolds him in a half-hearted way. She was secretly happy he was putting her needs first again.

  “There is no way I would leave you alone your first day here. Besides, it’s been two long months since I’ve had my Elise fix. No way a few hours will be enough.” He winks at her as he makes the turn into the parking lot of his apartment complex. The parking lot seems to be unusually full this evening, but he doesn’t pay much attention to it. His only focus is Elise. He parks in his space. “Wait there, sweetheart. I’ll come around.”

  Elise rolls her eyes but waits patiently for Warren to open her door and help her out. He grabs her suitcase from the back seat. Then takes her hand and leads her to his apartment. Once they are in the elevator, he takes her lips again. His hands wandering over her body. Her back is to the doors of the elevator. He backs her out the doors when they open without breaking their kiss. When they step off the elevator on his floor, he groans loudly when he sees the horde of people standing outside his door.

  “Damn!” Deadeye growls as he breaks their kiss.

  “What’s wrong Warren?” Elise asks before turning to look into the hallway where Warren’s gaze has fallen. She laughs then. Warren’s teammates are standing in the hall holding shopping bags and smiling from ear to ear.

  “What the Hell are y’all doing here?” Deadeye growls at his friends. He wants to be angry, but he knows they mean well. Tank smirks at him as he lifts a couple of 6-packs of beer.

  “We’re here for the welcome home party for Elise.” Tank’s voice booms in the hallway as everyone else chimes in agreement. Everyone is talking at the same time. Charlotte and Hawk are juggling their twin boys and while she isn’t showing yet, Deadeye knows Charlotte won’t be drinking anything tonight. She’s about 15 weeks pregnant with another child while their twins are only about 9 months old. Deadeye has to hand it to Hawk. He might be getting up in years, soon to be 48 but is apparently still quite virile to have knocked Charlotte up twice in such a short time. Perhaps there’s hope for him and Elise to have kids if she wants them. He worries about what kind of father he would be after his upbringing, but maybe that is what will make him a good father. He lived all the wrong things to do, so hopefully he will do the right things. He doesn’t have time to be thinking along those lines yet. He needs to get his woman settled and get rid of his uninvited company.

  “Alright, clear a damn path so I can open the door for Pete’s sake.” Deadeye mumbles as he moves toward the door still holding on to Elise’s hand. They guys are chuckling at Deadeye’s irritation. Charlotte passes off Joshua to Wallace while she grabs Elise for a bear hug. Once the door is unlocked everyone piles inside. It’s a tight fit as his place is kind of small for so many people. He really needs to think about buying a house if things work out with Elise like he’s hoping, but again that’s thoughts for another time.

  “Give us a few minutes to put her stuff away and we’ll be back out.” Deadeye calls to the group as he leads Elise down the short hallway to his bedroom. Once they are inside, he shuts the door and locks it for good measure. “Sorry about that. They mean well, but I wish they would have waited until tomorrow. I wanted you all to myself, tonight.” Elise laughs and falls against his chest.

  “It’s ok, Warren. Maybe since they are here tonight, that means I can have you all to myself all day tomorrow.” Elise says with a coy smile. Then she tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips.

  “Ummm. I like the sound of that. Perhaps this isn’t so bad after all.” Deadeye laughs as he returns her kiss. They get lost for a few moments until they hear a knock on the door, closely followed by the knob rattling.

  “That’s enough ka-noodling in there.” Worm calls. “Get out here and enjoy the party. We’ve got food and beer!” He laughs loudly before thumping the door again. Deadeye yells at him. “We’ll be out in a minute, jeez.” Elise is giggling like a schoolgirl.

  “I like your friends Warren, even if they are interfering and sometimes annoying.” She smiles to soften her chastisement of his friends.

  “You have no idea. Just wait woman. We won’t see a minute’s peace with that bunch around.” He huffs out a breath but smiles at her. “Come on before they send someone else after us.” He opens the door then and they move out into the living area where the party is in full swing.

  It’s actually very tame by most standards. With the twins there no one gets too rowdy or drunk. It was really a lot of fun among friends. Charlotte insisted they play games like charades and Pictionary. She had made chicken salad and tuna salad sandwiches. Tank and Straw had brought beer, wine, and Bourbon. Worm, Hack, and Virus had brought fruit and vegetable trays. Ace, Wallace, and Mercury brought chips and dips. Bull brought sodas for those that chose not to indulge. After all they had to have DD’s. Deadeye’s place wasn’t big enough for them to crash there if they drank too much.

  It was getting late by the time everyone finally gathered up themselves and called it a night. Elise was really tired, but she knew she still had to call her parents. When she picked up her cell phone, she had five missed calls, three voice mails and 10 text messages. Crap! This wasn’t going to be good. Time to bite the bullet and get it over with. After telling Warren what she was going to do, she steps out onto his balcony that overlooks a field behind his apartment complex. The phone rang only once before her father answered.

  “Elise thank God! Are you alright? Where are you? We’ve been worried sick!” Jackson Sommers demands as soon as he answers the phone.

  “Hi Dad. I’m fine. I told you where I was going in my note. Didn’t you find it?” Elise asks rather irritated. Her parents never, ever listen to her. It was just like them to only scan the note and not take in the details of what she had written.

  “Yes, we got your note. Are you really with that Marine?” Her father asks again in a demanding tone.

  “Yeah Dad. I’m in North Carolina with Warren.” Elise sighs as she hears her father relaying her every word to her mother. “Just put the phone on speaker so you don’t have to keep repeating everything I say.” She hears the phone click then she can clearly hear her mother.

  “Elise, honey. Please don’t do this. Come home. I promise we will lighten up.” Ellen sounds so convincing. “I realize now that Dr. Billings was right; we were hovering too much.”

 
; “Yes, you were Mom, but that’s not the only reason I left. I missed Warren.” Elise sighs again. “Please just let me have some time with him. I tried it your way and I was going insane. Give me a couple of weeks to figure things out.”

  Silence meets her from the other end of the phone. “Are you still there?” Elise inquires after a couple of minutes of silence. She takes a quick look at her phone and it looks like it still connected. She places it back to her ear to hear her father talking again.

  “Yes, Elise we are still here, but we are just shocked that you would run off to shack up with an older man.” He sighs heavily. “I thought we raised you better than that young lady. We are very disappointed. He’s in service, you know he doesn’t make that much. He can’t provide for you like you should be taken care of.” Elise rolls her eyes; thankful her parents can’t see her.

  “Dad, I’m not shacking up. Warren has an extra bedroom that I can stay in. I’m not having sex with him. We don’t know each other that well yet and besides I still have things from overseas to deal with.” Elise is so over this conversation. She’s 27 years old for Heaven’s sake. She shouldn’t be having to discuss with her parents whether or not she’s having sex. For crying out loud, they need to back off. “And I am not expecting Warren to keep me up. I have a degree and I plan on using it.”

  “Elise it doesn’t look right for a young woman to be living with an older man. What will everyone say? I’m on the church ethics committee for Heaven’s sake.” Ellen chimes in this time.

  “Mom! This is 2019 not the 1800’s. Nobody cares about that anymore. Even if they do, I don’t care what those pampered witches say about me behind my back. Please can we stop discussing my non-existent sex life?” Elise is one heartbeat away from hanging up and throwing her phone off the balcony. She has put up with her parents controlling her every move all her life. It’s past time for them to realize she is a grown capable woman that needs her independence.

  “Fine dear we won’t speak of it again.” Ellen Sommers declares with hurt in her voice. “We just want what’s best for you, dear. Can’t you see that?”

  “Mom I know you and Dad mean well, but I’m not 16 with cancer anymore. You have to let me make my own choices and if I screw up, it’s on me. It’s a part of life and being an adult. Please understand. If you won’t make me feel like crap every time I call, I will promise to call every day, ok?” Elise pleads with them to understand and cut her some slack.

  “Alright, dear. We will do our best to keep our opinions about Warren to ourselves, but if he harms one hair on your head, we will end his career. Make no mistake about that.” Mr. Sommers is talking now.

  “Goodnight Mom, Dad. I got to go. It’s late and I’m beat. I love you.” Elise ends the call without waiting for them to comment further.

  Chapter 18

  Deadeye is waiting in the living area for her when she comes back inside. He looks up at her in question with a pained look on his face. Elise gives him a tight smile before closing the distance between them. She wraps her arms around him and holds on for a few moments before speaking.

  “It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but they aren’t happy that’s for sure.” Elise gives him another squeeze before raising up to look at him. He smiles down at her and plants a quick kiss on her lips.

  “Come on, sweetheart. I know you are tired. Let’s get you to bed, ok?” She nods in agreement and they turn to head down the hall toward the bedrooms. When they reach Warren’s room, he stops before opening the door. “I didn’t mean to assume you wanted to sleep with me, sweetheart. I have a guest room. I can bring your bag in there.”

  “Warren, I want to sleep with you.” Elise begins looking up into his gorgeous eyes as she blushes. “I’m having nightmares and I don’t want to be alone. I need you.” The last few words are whispered as if they are some deep dark secret.

  “Thank fuck sweetheart! I want you in my bed even if it’s just to sleep, but I just wanted you to have options. I’m not some overbearing caveman.” Deadeye gives her a smirk as he opens the door and leads her inside. She hadn’t gotten to look at his room when he had brought her in earlier. She was too distracted by Warren and his hot mouth. His bedroom is typical bachelor. A king size Walnut four-poster bed takes command of the room on the far wall. It is covered with a Navy-blue comforter and a few pillows at the head. A matching 6-drawer chest of drawers is on the left wall near a large window with Navy-blue room darkening curtains. The right wall has a door that leads to the in-suite bathroom and wall-in closet. A large flat screen TV is hanging on the wall beside the door. The floor is covered with a thick plush cream-colored carpet. It wasn’t huge or fancy, but to Elise it was absolutely perfect.

  “Here’s your bag, go get ready. I’ll use the guest bathroom.” Warren gives her a quick kiss on her forehead before heading to the chest of drawers to grab some clothes out. Elise heads into the surprisingly large bathroom. It has Jack and Jill sinks, a large jacuzzi tub and a separate shower. After turning on the water, she quickly strips out of her clothes and steps into the warm spray of the shower. She quickly washes using Warren’s body wash and shampoo.

  There was something so intimate about wearing his scent that was turning her on in such a primal way. She was burning between her legs and wanted to touch herself to relieve the desire burning her alive, but she wanted Warren to put out her fire not just give herself a temporary reprieve like she had been doing for the last few weeks. When she was clean, she stood in the warm down pour for a few minutes longer contemplating what might be coming. She wanted Warren in a carnal way, but he was a very stubborn honorable man. He knows she’s inexperienced and will want them to take their time before rushing into a sexual relationship. She just needs the right motivation to show him she is more than ready for more, despite what she told her parents a few minutes ago.

  Dressing in the extremely sexy negligée she bought before heading down here, Elise prepares to seduce her man into making love to her. It is black lace with a deep V in the front showing a lot of cleavage not that the lace covered up much anyway. It cinched tight under her breasts with a large red ribbon tied into a bow between her breasts then flare out into a baby doll dress. The almost non-existent thong panties completed the ensemble. Cracking open the bathroom door, she peeked out to see if Warren was back yet or not. She wanted to make an entrance, but her nerves were getting the best of her, making her doubt what she was about to do. If he rejected her, she wasn’t sure she could recover from that. She needed this more than air to breathe. When she looked into the room, Warren was sitting on the far side of the bed; his back to the bathroom door. Taking a deep breath to steel her courage, Elise steps out into the bedroom. Her heart is racing, beating so hard it will surely fly out of her chest. Warren turns at the sound of the door opening and he freezes with his mouth hanging open.

  “Fuck, sweetheart.” Deadeye is floored. She is the most gorgeous woman he has ever seen. Standing before him in next to nothing, looking so unsure of herself. He wants to rip that lace off her and show her she has nothing to be unsure about. She is a vision of loveliness. His cock has stood up and took notice. He is rock hard instantly after laying eyes on her. He blows out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and gets to his feet. He is standing before her in 2 seconds. He wills himself to not touch her just yet. He is too much of a gentleman to man-handle her without making sure she is ready.

  “Sweetheart, Jesus. I don’t have words.” Deadeye whispers trying to put into words just how perfect she is standing before him. Elise looks up at him with a coy smile.

  “I take it you like it?” Elise asks as she gives him 360 turn. Her face is lit up with desire when she is facing him again.

  “Hell, yeah I like it. Shit! I almost shot off in my pants like some pre-teen looking at his first dirty magazine when I looked over and saw you standing there.” Deadeye confesses. “Come here, let me show how much I like it.” He reaches for her then and wraps his arms around her, pulling her into his
body. She melts against him in relief. She wasn’t sure what kind of reaction she was going to get, but Charlotte had been right. It was definitely the right way to go. She will have to remember to thank her later, but right now she has a man to satisfy.

  “Sweetheart, are you sure about this?” Warren looks deep into her eyes. He’s looking for hesitation. He wants this more than his next breath, but he refuses to put his needs above hers. She will be the one to decide when and how far they will go.

  “Yes, Warren. I’m sure.” Elise says breathlessly. She’s tired of talking and wants to get down to business.

  “If anything gets too intense for you let me know. I will stop no matter what.” Warren stares into her eyes making sure she understands what he means. “The last thing I want to do is cause you pain or bring back awful memories.”

  “I know, Warren. I trust you. I want this.” Elise whispers to him as she wraps her arms around his neck.

  His lips find hers and they moan in ecstasy of the moment. His hands have drifted to her barely covered breasts. Elise throws her head back to arch her chest into his touch. He growls and sweeps her off her feet carrying her to the bed. He lowers her down gently placing her on top of the covers. She scoots back toward the center of the bed and he follows, crawling toward her like a beast stalking his prey. It just makes her wetter and she can feel the slickness on her thighs as she moves. The scent of her arousal hits her, and she blushes worried about what he will think.

  “You smell good, sweetheart. Are you ready for me?” Warren asks as he hovers over her. Elise nods eagerly. Warren lowers himself over her taking her right breast into his mouth despite the lacy fabric still covering it. She moans and that just spurs him on to continue his sweet assault on her body. He moves to the left breast repeating his actions while his left-hand cups the moist bud of her right breast he just left. Elise writhes under him a whimper escaping her lips.