My Soldier: A Miliatary Romance

by Holt, Leah

  His touch, it's perfection.

  The minute his fingers wrapped my slender wrists, my entire body was electrified. The charge rode my insides, buzzing from head to toe, zipping back up and hitting my gut.

  His lips kept moving, the words washing over my spine and filling my ears, leaving me standing in a trance. “But I'm not leaving your side, Avni. I can't, not if I'm going to make sure you stay safe. I was so worried that Vito had gotten to you when I wasn't here to protect you.” The wrinkles across his forehead grew with worry and fear. “I'm just happy nothing happened to you. If—”

  Pressing a finger to his lips, I hushed his thoughts. “Levi, I'm fine. Nothing's going to happen to me, I won't let it. Vito needs money and someway, somehow, I'll get it. Once he has that, then he'll be gone.”

  Levi's stare grew hard, the crystal blue growing deeper in color. “You don't know that, he's a fucking creep, Avni. You don't know what that shitbag will do. But that's why I'm here, that's why I'm not letting you out of my sight. There's something you need to know and I can't keep it from you any longer.”

  My lungs froze, his face holding such poise and animation at the same moment. I waited, waited to hear whatever was sitting on his soul.

  I had never seen him so serious, not even that night on the street had his face held such a sober expression.

  “Avni, when I was in Afghan—”

  A knock on the door threw his thought back into his throat. The door cracked open, my mom peeked her head inside warily. “Avni, Honey, are you alright?”

  Stumbling backward, I stood quick and awkwardly, shoving my hands into my back pockets.

  She stepped inside, eyes thin and suspiciously looking over Levi. “Avni, who's this?” A smaller figure squeezed in behind her; my sister.

  Her copper hair curled over her shoulders, fingers wildly turning a small sparkling bottle.

  Livie's eyes shifted around my small apartment, fixing on what seemed like every object for a brief moment.

  Spinning the bottle, she held it to a single beam of sun filtering in through the open door. The purple liquid lit up around the white walls, peppering them in tiny rainbows and sparkling dots.

  Tapping my mom on her elbow, Liv pointed at the walls, smiling brightly.

  “Yes, Liv, it's very pretty.” Her hands moved in a fluent motion, dancing in my sister's face, never removing the glare from Levi. What is she doing here? “Avni, care to introduce us to your friend?” A delicate smile set on her lips, crinkles forming against the corners as she bounced her eyes between us.

  “Sure, why not.” Standing tall, I held my sides with purpose. “Mom, this is Levi. Levi, this is my mom, Sara, and my little sister Livie.”

  Immediately he stuck out his hand, firmly shaking my mother's like he was in an important business meeting. “Hello, it's nice to meet you, Ma'am.” Stiffening his back, Levi stood tall, hands tucked snug behind his back as he released his determined grip from my mother's palm.

  It almost seemed like a natural instinct, the way his spine went taut. It reminded me of Kevin when he first came home from basic training.

  He did the same things as Levi, he stood as tall as he could, as if wishing his bones would magically grow with the stance. His head always stayed straight as an arrow, in line with the rest of his body.

  I tried not to chuckle with the image, the picture of boys leaving and returning home like robots built of flesh. I busted Kevin's balls a lot at first, and he hated it. But it was the only way I could sneak the old Kevin out.

  He'd get pissed with my childish remarks and mimicked behavior, eventually losing his Army bound alertness to chase me down and threaten me with a noogie, or smelling some ungodly scent from his dirty gym bag,

  Turning toward my sister, Levi held his hand out in the same gesture. “Hello, it's nice to meet you too, young lady.”

  Livie just stared at him, then her eyes crept down his chest to the shiny tags resting in the center. The ornate jewelry that hung around his neck reminding me of his impending doom.

  A soft squeak slipped between her lips, hand raising to point at his dog tags. “Yeah, those are my dog tags. Pretty cool, huh?”

  Stepping up to stand beside him, I took my place as her interpreter. My hands moved like a composer of an orchestra, face contorting with each gesture, muscles exaggerating each expression.

  “What are you doing?” He asked, brow twisting up unnaturally across his lid.

  “My sister can't hear you, she's deaf. So I'm telling her what you said.”

  Livie lifted her hand, drawing a half circle over her face, 'beautiful,' she said. Smiling a grin of pure happiness, she signed one letter, 'K.'

  My heart sank, diving deep into my stomach. She was thinking of Kevin and the tags he wore identical to Levi's.

  I didn't let my sadness show, I smiled and bobbled my fist up and down to tell her, 'yes.'

  “She said they're pretty, like Kevin's,” I said to Levi. He smiled and cupped the tiny metallic plates, holding them tight.

  Waving in my face, Livie signed a question I didn't want to repeat aloud. “Is he your boyfriend?” My mom giggled, covering her lips.

  “What? What did she say?” Levi asked, an overwhelming curiosity plagued his face.

  Waving my hand, I sternly used my index and middle finger, clamping down tightly onto my thumb. “No.”

  “What? What did she say?” He looked between us, eyes as large as a deer in headlights. But I wasn't repeating it out loud.

  No way in hell. I was sure Levi would grin like the joker, his eyes leering in agreement with my sister's question.

  Mom held Liv's shoulders, an awful happy smile filled her face. She was staring at us, eating up the sight in front of her. “So, this is him.”

  “Mom.” I snapped, teeth clenched tight.

  “What? It was just a question.” Cruising past me, she headed into the kitchen with an arm full of bags. “I brought you a few things, and grabbed your prescription. Let me tell you, those stupid little bins at the register are hell. Liv wouldn't leave till I finally bought her one of those tiny hand sanitizers with the sparkles inside.” Huffing under her breath, she dug through the bags, setting the items on the counter.

  Every so often, if I have long shifts at work, and really don't want to go into civilization to fend for groceries... I ask her to go for me. I know it sounds a bit childish, but my mom loves running errands.

  She's always happy to help and welcomes it with open arms. Anything she could do to keep herself occupied, helped her brain from running tracks around thoughts of Kevin.

  But, I had totally forgotten about her coming today. And I definitely hadn't expected Levi to show up.

  You wished for it, remember?

  I also shouldn't have put it past him, it was his trademark. No calls, no texts, just random house calls...

  Oh, and the occasional letter.

  “So, Levi,” Mom said, slapping a thick cut of beef onto my counter. “Are you staying for dinner? I brought plenty.” The corner of her lip peeled up, winking in my direction.

  Driving my palm into my head, I shut my eyes tight.

  She is never subtle, is she?

  “If Avni doesn't mind, I'll stay. I'd love a good home cooked meal.” He rubbed his abs, taunting my eyes to his belly.

  I knew what was under his shirt, and the tight green, v-neck he had on today did very little to hide the outline of steel stepping stones.

  “Great, Avni doesn't mind. Do you, Hun?” Mom continued to pull food from the bags, setting up for a damn feast.

  My lids opened wide, head shaking side to side. “No, I don't mind.”

  Shit. I could be royally screwed in a few hours. Levi might never look at me the same way.

  Does it really matter?

  So long as he looked at me, I'd be fine either way. Worse things could happen.

  Right?

  Yes, worse things could definitely happen.

  They already had.

&
nbsp; Chapter Fourteen

  Levi

  Avni's mom was awesome. I got more detail about that girl in the three hours with her mother than I think Avni would have given me if I'd already known her for months.

  I learned that she had broken her wrist once trying to fly when she was seven, that she and her brother would spend hours digging up worms from the backyard to go fishing every summer, and would freeze the extra.

  Ew, gross.

  Sara made sure to tell Avni's stories of being mistaken for her brother till she was almost ten, mostly because her parents didn't have the money to take the kids for haircuts and their father would do it.

  The mullet, we all had one... It was just something you never wanted to admit.

  And the reason Avni fell so easily into her line of work was that her sister had Autism. Livie was beyond incredible. She had overcome so much in her young life already.

  Sign language had been her saving grace and watching these women; fingers flying in all different directions, words built from air...

  It was an awe-inspiring sight. Avni became my unspoken interpreter, relaying what I said to her sister, and vice versa.

  Livie's eyes would always fall to the shining metal against my chest, set in a mind bending trance as they sparkled under the light.

  Sitting around the small galley island that separated the kitchen and living room, it was amazing to see the bond these ladies had.

  A bond brought together by love, hardships, and pain. So much pain, and yet they all still held a smile when together.

  The delectable smells filled Avni's apartment with mouth watering envy. The first bite I rested on my tongue melted into a taste bud orgasm that coated my stomach in satisfaction.

  Home cooked meals were a long forgotten memory. But Sara could cook, and Avni made sure to point out the fact she could not.

  “Levi, tell me something.” Sara lifted the tall glass of wine to her slender aged—though much too quickly aged—lips. “What are your intentions with my daughter?”

  “Mom! Stop!” Avni's jaw hit the table, eyes shooting open in disbelief.

  “What? I need to ask, it's my job. I am your mother, remember?”

  “No, no you don't. You need to stop. You've already aired enough of my dirty laundry, so please stop.” Her embarrassment rained across her skin. Her cheeks twinged pink, fingers twitching in a seizure against her arms.

  “It's alright, V,” I said, placing a soothing hand across her delicate and trembling fingers. “Mrs. Boyd—”

  Holding her hand up, Sara cut in. “Please, call me Sara. Mrs. Boyd makes me sound really old. That's what I have to call my husband's mother, and she's almost ninety. I insist, just Sara is fine.”

  “Sara,” I said, correcting myself. “Your daughter is incredible, and I would never do anything to hurt her.”

  Unless she wanted me to, it's always fun to get a little kinky sometimes.

  “Avni, will get nothing but respect, I promise you that.”

  Avni threw her hand to her head. Her face sat motionless, like she was waiting for something to happen.

  I wasn't sure what to expect, till her mother opened her mouth to speak. And what came out was so far away from what I expected.

  “Son, don't bullshit me. I expect you to do all those things, of course.” Waving her hand, she dangled her fingertips over the edge of the glass. “But, don't play me for a fool. I know you're going to try and screw my daughter. If you haven't already, you kids these days move like lightening with that shit.” Her eyes flashed at Avni, flickering with a sprite of, 'Let me just say this, I'm not stupid.'

  Her gaze shifted back to mine, eyes razor thin. “You just make sure you're cautious. Don't give her anything, don't get her knocked up, unless you plan on sticking around for a long time, but just don't go doing something you won't be man enough to handle. Understood?” Sara glared at me, one thin brow arched in seriousness.

  Inside I was coated in shock, giddy laughter; the laughter of a young boy who heard someone use the word 'balls' in a sentence meant for it; and cemented determination to make her daughter mine regardless.

  I wasn't planning on going anywhere.

  “Sara, I assure you...” Holding up an index finger I started the count. “One, I'm clean, no need to worry, Army tested me when I got home. Per my request,” I said, turning my gaze to Avni. “Not because of sex, it was because of being out in the field.”

  It was very important that Avni understood I wasn't out screwing a bunch of local woman from that country.

  But there were other dangers I had to face, and had faced.

  The open wound of a fellow soldier, having to improvise on the spot and help them survive, it came with a price. You never knew for sure if the brother by your side had untainted anything.

  But life came above all else. Every life was precious and you did what you could to keep them alive.

  “And two...” Second finger shot up, steady and unwavering. “I'm man enough to handle anything...” Lifting my brows, I leaned over the table. “Anything.”

  And I'm about to save your daughter from a maniac, a maniac who really wanted blood for Kevin.

  But I couldn't say that out loud. Avni made it clear, her parents knew nothing and it would stay that way.

  My lips were sealed.

  Clapping her hands together loudly, she smiled large. “Levi, you just made me like you even more.” Nudging Avni, she bared a toothy white grin. “Good job, Sweetheart.”

  As for Avni, she just sank deeper into her chair. Embarrassment, disgust, madness, all washing over her flesh turning her green.

  “Can we not do this?” Avni spoke into her chest, fingers glued to her forehead. “Ever again, please?”

  Sara stood, collecting the plates from the table. “Lighten up, Sweetie. It's just formalities, and it's done. Besides, at least I can tell Dad it's been done. I know you wouldn't want him asking the questions.” Winking in my direction, she mouthed softly under her breath. “She's always been a bit uptight.”

  There was no need for her to tell me that one... I saw that part a couple of times already.

  I was surprised how comfortable I felt with her family. Sara wasn't a bitter woman who held her daughter on a pedestal out of reach.

  She wanted to make sure her daughter was in good hands. I couldn't blame her for that.

  According to Sara, Avni's dad worked late, mostly to keep his mind occupied. They both had similar ways of grieving, divulging any spare time they had into the world around them.

  Sara spent it catering to her two daughters, finding ways to fill her day with errands. Mr. Boyd spent it engulfed in his work, creating new lesson plans as a teacher.

  Glancing over at Avni, she finally brought herself back into the room, peeling away the covers to her beautiful face. She was so enthralling, a perfect magnet for my eyes.

  Her hair glistened with light, soaking up the rays and shining like black glass. Sitting way too far from her, all I thought about was touching her.

  My fingers were greedily itching on my lap to wrap around the velvet strands, let the silky locks tickle the edges of my wrist.

  The yellow shirt that hugged her ribs graced me with the light outline of her bra beneath. The pink strap peeked from the neck, lace ridges creating texture to her plain shirt. My cock throbbed as temptation sat inches from my fingertips.

  A sharp high-pitched noise escaped Livie's mouth. Angling my head to look over, she was angrily spinning the bottle on the table top.

  Her face was scrunched up tight, brows braided in a frown. Lifting her hand, she slammed it back down on the bottle.

  Avni jumped from her seat in one quick jolt, rushing to her sister's side. I watched her in awe, fingers artistically dancing so Liv could see her; a Terpsichore of unspoken language singing a silent choral song.

  Liv smiled, nodding in agreement. Her arms quickly wrapped around Avni, hugging her close.

  “What did you say to her?” I asked.


  A piece of me felt out of place, a conversation happened before my eyes and I couldn't understand a single part of it. The only piece I got completely was Liv's smile.

  I wished I knew how to speak with my hands, it was such an amazing thing to watch. To know her fingers and hands could speak the words she was thinking, or the words that were said, it was incredible.

  “Nothing really, she was getting a little upset and anxious. But it's alright now.”

  Smoothing Liv's hair, Avni kissed the top of her head. There was so much love, so much unconditional admiration for her younger sister.

  Watching them together, seeing Avni glow with happiness; she was capable of loving, loving without barriers and blockades.

  She's afraid... Of me.

  Of who I am.

  Then and there I made a promise to myself, and to her too; even though she didn't know it yet.

  I was falling for this girl, and I was going to break down that last bit holding her back.

  Life was just too damn short to be tied to a wall you couldn't control.

  I promised she would come to understand love outside her power.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Avni

  That was the most uncomfortable, nerve-wracking, awful dinner ever in my life.

  Actually, that was the first dinner I had ever brought a guy to, not that I brought him because it was at my house. But still.

  My mom... Could she have been more embarrassing?

  Yes.

  Thank God she didn't bring up anything terribly personal for Levi's ears. I would have killed her if she had mentioned my first period, or the time she caught me self pleasuring to a teen magazine at the tender age of thirteen.

  Ugh, Zac Efron... I can't even see a picture of him to this day without turning cherry red, and my stomach doing flips with embarrassment. Forever tainted.