by Ivy Jordan
“I don’t know,” I lied.
I could see the disappointment in his eyes. I wanted to throw my arms around him and tell him that wasn’t the truth. I wanted to tell him what I really wanted, and that it was him, just him.
Chapter Eight
I leaned against my counter, watching Silas interact with the customers. He was so easygoing that it was impossible not to like him.
After nearly two weeks, we’d grown extremely close, and the more I looked at him, the more I realized, there was no way I could let him leave without telling him how I really felt about him, about us.
“Thank you for your service,” Mrs. White said, smiling at Silas like he was a giant lollipop.
He leaned down, kissed her hand, and made her blush as he told her it was his honor.
He’d spent almost an hour talking to Mr. Gentry about the war, and another hour with Mr. Tillis talking about planes. He seemed to fit in so perfectly, not just with my family, with me, but with my entire life.
“Can you grab the large bag of flour in the kitchen for Kayla,” I asked him once he was finally free.
“Sure thing, gorgeous.”
Kayla grinned as she watched me, watch him walk into the back. “You’re in love,” she teased.
I blushed instantly. My hand waved in her direction to shush her before he heard. I couldn’t deny it. It was true.
“Oh God, here comes Jimmy,” Kayla said, frowning in my direction.
He strutted through the front door like he owned the place with a huge grin on his face. “Hey, Juicy Lucy,” he called out just as Silas made his way from the back.
“Hey, Jimmy,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“I need something to make my junk smell good,” he said with a laugh.
“That’s impossible,” Kayla joked.
Silas gripped my arm as I started to walk to my counter. “Who’s that?” he asked.
“My ex. He’s an idiot, but harmless,” I insisted.
He loosened his grip and I walked over to my counter. Jimmy was picking up each product, sniffing it carefully, and then setting it back down. “It needs to be strong,” he laughed.
“Jimmy, none of this stuff is made for your junk,” I groaned.
“You remember what my junk smells like, right?” he asked.
I didn’t want to answer that. I looked to Silas, who was already looking disturbed. I offered a nervous smile and then turned back to Jimmy. I’d told Silas about him, about how crude and immature he was. It didn’t bother me so much, but knowing it was irritating Silas was hard to swallow.
“If you don’t remember, I can give ya a whiff, for old times’ sake,” Jimmy laughed.
A hand slammed down on the counter, hard and forcefully. The eagle tattoo on the wrist made it clear it was Silas’s without having to look up.
“You need to take your disrespectful mouth somewhere else before it gets smashed in, son,” Silas scorned.
“Woah. When did you get a rent-a-sailor for the shop?” Jimmy chuckled.
Silas’s chest puffed out, and his breathing picked up pace. I watched his nostrils flaring, and his eyes turning black, and I knew he was about to blow. “Silas!” I called out.
He glared at me and then turned his attention back to Jimmy. “What’s it gonna be?” he demanded.
“Jimmy, just—please leave,” I pleaded.
He smirked in my direction. “I’ll go. But only because you asked me too, Juicy Lucy,”
A couple little old ladies that were at Kayla’s counter walked out when Silas slammed his fist down. I was embarrassed, and infuriated. “Why did you cause a scene?” I asked as Jimmy left the store.
“He was being rude and disrespectful to you,” Silas demanded.
“I can handle him. You ran off customers with your outburst,” I scorned.
Silas huffed and took in a deep breath. “Wow. Okay, so it’s fine for someone to ask you to smell their junk?” he laughed angrily.
“Of course not, but you were being ridiculous,” I scoffed.
“Yeah. Whatever,” he laughed, and pulled away from my grip.
I watched him storm out of the shop, my heart breaking knowing he was angry and hurt.
“Why don’t you go after him?” Kayla suggested.
“I think I better let him cool off,” I replied.
Two hours passed and we were locking up. I still hadn’t seen Silas, and even though I sent a text, it wasn’t responded to.
“Good luck,” Kayla said as she waved to me getting in my car.
I felt that annoying lump in my throat as I pulled onto my long, dirt lane. Silas’s rental car was parked by my loft, but the trunk was popped open.
My heart sank deep into my chest as I parked beside his car. I peeked into the trunk as I walked toward my loft; one of his large canvas bags was already packed inside. I rushed inside to find Silas stuffing his last suitcase. He jerked the case sideways, zipping it with a swift motion. “You’re leaving?” I asked.
“I’m going to the hotel,” he snapped. “I think we need some time apart.”
He stood there, suitcase in hand, his eyes dark and unforgiving, and his lips tight. I watched his fist clench around the handle of his suitcase. It was obvious he was still fuming about Jimmy, and about me. Maybe I could’ve handled it differently, but it was my business. I’d never had anyone swoop in to rescue me. I was always able to handle my own conflicts. Why did it infuriate me so badly that Silas wanted to protect me?
I just stood there, speechless. I knew I needed to say something, but I wasn’t sure what. “You’re not going back home, are you?” I asked.
“I don’t have a home. But no. I’m not going back to work,” he snarled.
It had felt like home since Silas had been here. It was the best two weeks of my life. I knew this was what I wanted, that he was what I wanted. But he was so mad, I knew now wasn’t the time to tell him.
“Everything’s just been moving so fast,” he said calmly.
That was one thing I could agree with. Things were moving fast, lightning fast.
“I know what I want, Lucy. You’re the one who doesn’t,” he said softly.
My heart swelled in my chest. It felt like this was the moment. I was ready to tell him how I truly felt, how I’ve always felt.
“And I know what I don’t want. I don’t want a woman who allows another man to disrespect her in front of me,” he snapped.
And the moment was gone.
“I didn’t want to be here when you got back. I just came to get my things,” he said.
“Silas, wait,” I said, reaching for his arm as he passed me.
“I don’t wanna do this now, Lucy,” he said, pushing past me and out the front door.
I held myself together until I heard the door slam. My tears fell violently down my cheeks, sobs shook my chest, and my heart felt as though it would explode from the pain.
What just happened? Did Silas just break up with me?
Chapter Nine
I barely slept, and all day at work, Kayla kept pushing for details about Silas and me. I didn’t have any. He hadn’t called, he didn’t respond to my text, and even though I expected to see him at the shop that day, he didn’t show.
“Are you okay?” Kayla asked as we closed for the day.
I nodded, fighting back my tears.
“Why don’t you go to him? Tell him how you really feel?” she suggested.
I knew if I’d only told him when he asked the first time, none of this would be happening.
“What if he doesn’t want to see me?” I asked.
“Then he doesn’t want to see you. But you have to at least try,” she urged.
I hugged my sister and rushed to my car. The hotel wasn’t far from the bakery, so I decided to go straight there instead of going home first.
Silas’s rental car was parked in the front parking lot. My heart calmed a bit knowing he hadn’t left town. Inside, the clerk was impossible, refusing to give me Silas’s r
oom number. “I can call,” she said with a smirk.
“Fine,” I agreed. “Tell him it’s his home.”
She gave me a strange look and then picked up the phone. I heard her telling Silas that ‘his home’ was here. “Okay, sir,” she said quickly, and hung up.
Her eyes were distant and empty as she chomped on her gum. “Well?” I asked, feeling impatient.
“Room 109,” she said.
Before she could give me directions, I rushed away from the counter and down a long corridor lined with red doors. I found his room, knocked, and felt my nerves unravel as I waited for him to open the door.
I heard him on the other side of the door, sounding like he was scooting something heavy. The door opened, I leapt into his arms without saying a word. I just needed to feel him, to have him hold me.
His arms tightened around me, his head rested on mine, and I heard him let out a long, deep, sigh.
I pulled back, staring up into his dark eyes. “You’re what I want. You’re what I’ve always wanted,” I admitted.
His eyes glossed over with wetness, but not a single tear dropped. His lips tightened, but I could see them begin to quiver as he obviously fought back the rush of emotion.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” I said sternly.
“I love you, Lucy,” he said softly, kissing me on the forehead.
My heart felt as though it exploded in my chest from the overload of emotion surging through me. “I love you too, Silas,” I sobbed.
His strong arms scooped me up from my feet and carried me into the hotel room. The heavy door slammed shut behind me as he moved toward the bed. My mouth reached for his, stretching my neck until our lips finally met. His taste was so delicious, so missed, my tongue worked diligently to sop up every ounce of his flavor.
He gently placed me on the bed, his eyes penetrating me fiercely as my body began to ache for his touch. He undressed, slowly, letting me take in every ripple in his chest, every line in his form. He held his cock, stroking it slowly, and then slid on a condom before lowering to his knees at the end of the bed. He gripped my ankles, pulling my ass to the edge and closer to his mouth. I fell back, unable to control the arousal that rolled through my body like thunder. My back arched as he slipped my skirt above my hips and my panties to my ankles.
My eyes were closed, waiting for the sensation of his touch. His tongue pressed flat against my pussy, lapping my flesh with slow, steady strokes. Moans escaped my throat, my hands reached for his head, gripping it, guiding it to keep the same rhythm.
My knees tightened around him, pressing into his ears as his tongue pushed deep inside of me. I lifted up, rocking my hips toward him as he sucked on my flesh, enjoying the juices he aroused from me. “I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you,” he said softly, lifting his mouth from my sweet spot. His eyes penetrated me, filled with emotion and hunger.
He stood, showing off his large erection as he leaned forward to grip my shirt. His strong hands lifted it from my body, over my head, and into the floor without effort. My eyes locked onto his as he carefully removed my bra. His movements were so sensual, so loving, my body responded with electric tingles, goosebumps, and a gentle quivering.
His hands slowly slid down my sides, stopping at my hips. He gripped my flesh tightly and pulled it toward him. My legs wrapped around his waist as he lowered himself at the edge of the bed. My arms locked around his neck as he lifted me from the bed and onto his erection. The weight of my body pushed him deep into my pussy as loud moans filled the room.
My back pressed against the wall as Silas pushed into me. His growls were intoxicating, his strength powerful and impressive. The palm of his hands rested on my ass cheeks, pushing them upward, and then letting them drop slowly back down onto his long cock.
Waves of pleasure began rolling through my body as my clit swelled against his pelvis. My eyes locked to his, and with my body shaking, my pussy throbbing, and my bottom lip quivering, I came in his arms.
He lowered me to the bed, mounted me gently, and leaned in, kissing me softly on the mouth.
My body was still recovering from the powerful orgasm it’d just received when he began to throb inside of me. Another swell of waves rolled through, causing my eyes to close, my legs to fall open, and my body to interact only with his. His cock slid in and out, slowly, and deep. My skin was so sensitive that every stroke sent me into a trance-like state of satisfaction.
His body tightened. His arms flexed around me, and his legs pushed his hips further into mine. I reached around his muscular body, my hands resting on his hard ass as it clenched from the ecstasy shooting through his veins.
“I’m home,” he said softly, pulling me into him as he rolled to his side.
Chapter Ten
Time flew by. Silas and I spent most of our time in bed, while Kayla handled the store. I cried a lot, feeling the pain of him leaving even before it happened, but I knew we had two weeks before we had to say goodbye, and I planned to make the best of every second.
“What if we don’t survive the distance?” I asked, snuggled under his arm with my head on his chest.
His hand moved to my face, brushing the long, auburn locks away from my brow. “What if we do?” he asked.
I smiled. I loved that he was so positive.
“There’s no one else in the world I would want more to be waiting for me when I get home,” he said softly.
I sighed, letting the warm air of my breath tickle the hairs on his chest. He squirmed, I giggled, and he quickly pounced onto me, pinning me to the mattress.
“Let’s get a shower, and go have lunch,” he said cheerfully.
I stretched upward, pushing my lips into his. I could taste the mixture of our juices on his tongue from our love making.
He jumped up, pulling away from my kiss. His body was so delicious. I hated to get out of bed. “Do we have to?” I pouted.
“Woman, you’re gonna kill me,” he laughed.
He extended his hand to me and pulled me from the bed as I took it. He gripped my ass cheeks tightly, guiding me into the bathroom as he kissed on the back of my neck.
The shower washed away my tears so he couldn’t see them as he gently washed me with my pink loofah. I was going to miss him so badly. It tore my heart out just thinking about our time being up soon.
“How will we see each other when you get back?” I asked.
“This is home. I’ll work, and then I’ll come home,” he said, making it sound so simple.
It wasn’t like a nine-to-five job. He would be at work for months at a time, and only home for a few days in between. “We’ll figure it out,” he whispered softly.
My hands roamed through the mounds of muscles on his body, exploring every inch. I wanted to memorize his form, suck in his scent so it would last a lifetime, and stare into his eyes so intensely that I could imprint my love onto his soul.
He slapped my ass as I stepped out of the shower, causing me to jump. “No fussing to get ready; you’re beautiful just the way you are,” he insisted.
I stood, cocking my hip to the side and placing my hand on my waist. “So, I should go like this?” I teased.
He stepped out of the shower, gripped my hips, and pulled me in close. “Yes,” he growled.
“I think I may have a problem getting served,” I laughed.
“Oh, baby. There’s no one in their right mind that wouldn’t serve you,” he said.
His phone rang in the bedroom, echoing through the loft like a warning siren of impending doom. My heart sank, knowing he hadn’t received any contact since he’d been there, with the exception of Brenda’s text.
He looked distressed as he rushed from the bathroom and toward the sound. I wrapped a towel around me and entered the room carefully, hoping to hear who the mystery caller was on the other end of his phone.
“Yes, sir. I’ll be there. No. Not a problem at all, sir. Thank y
ou, sir,” he said in a very military-style tone.
“Who was that?” I asked, already knowing it was work related.
His face was pale, his eyes filled with sadness and worry, and with every second I looked at him, my heart broke.
“The mission’s been pushed up. I leave for Turkey Tuesday morning. I have to leave today to get back and prepped.”
My knees weakened beneath me, and I felt as though I’d faint right there. I managed to keep my legs sturdy, and my mind focused as I took in his words.
He quickly moved toward me, wrapping me in his arms. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
“It’s not your fault. It’s a noble sacrifice,” I sulked. “I just don’t know if I can handle this,” I added.
“You can,” he assured me.
“You’ll always be leaving,” I gasped.
“But I’ll always be coming home,” he replied.
His hand stroked the hair from my face and wiped the single tear that escaped my eye.
“We can do this,” he said.
I looked up into his eyes. I knew we could. There was no one on this earth that I’d rather be waiting for. He was worth it. We were worth it.
“Okay. Let’s get you packed,” I said, trying my best to be diplomatic.
He winked at me, and then leaned in and kissed me softly on the cheek before grabbing his phone to make the flight arrangements.
The only flight available leaving Minnesota and landing in Wichita Falls, Texas that day was for four o’clock, giving us barely time to get packed and to the airport. Maybe it was best that we didn’t have time to say a long goodbye.
Silas packed his clothes while I gathered anything that belonged to him around the loft. I bagged up the body wash, the lip balm, and the shampoo that he’d helped me to create for my men’s line, and shoved it in his suitcase.
Silas pushed my back into the side of the car for a long passionate kiss in the airport drop-off lane. People stared at us as we embraced each other so tightly that it hurt. Some were envious, while others looked disgusted by our public display of affection. I didn’t care.
“I’ll be home soon,” Silas said, grabbing his bags and rushing into the airport.
