The Last Kiss

by Murphy, M. R.

  “We’re here.”

  The erotic drawl of his words vibrated through her as she reached for the door handle.

  “Wait,” he softly commanded.

  Jumping out of the truck, Aidan carelessly slammed his door shut and headed over to hers.

  “Such a gentleman.” She winked as he opened the door.

  When he offered her his hand, she slid her palm over his and started to climb out. The moment her feet it the pavement, he pulled her to his chest. Circling his arms around her, Aidan lifted any doubts she had ever held. It was in this one moment, she felt free. Free to be herself. Free to just be a woman in love. She couldn’t miss the tornado of butterflies flying carelessly around in her stomach. Her heart swelled a little more each time he brushed his fingers across her cheeks. His lips trembled as he lowered a hungry kiss onto hers. The fire coursing through her veins made her body quiver as she sank deeply in to his kiss.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck tightly, Raeve sagged into his embrace, as he urgently sliced his hot tongue inside her mouth. She realized it wasn’t a matter of if she wanted him; no it was much more carnal and dire. She needed to feel him; every inch of his skin covering hers lit every nerve in her body. Her skin prickled with goosebumps as she took their kiss even deeper. Visions of his chiseled body standing before her wearing nothing but a towel loosely hung around his hips flashed through her mind. Her hands couldn’t find enough of his flesh to purchase as she ran her fingers over the stony striations of his broad chest.

  The low growl that rumbled through his lips sent another wave of need coursing through her body. The suite seemed too far away, and she needed him, deep within her core, needed to feel Aidan fill her up until she cried out in ecstasy. Her hands slipped lower over his belt, quickly freeing the leather bind to expose his button and fly. Breaking from her kiss, Aidan’s eyes gazed feverishly into hers. His dark, half-lidded stare shattered the last of her control.

  Brushing his lips over her skin until he reached her ear, his deep voice pleaded with her to stop. “I’m ready to explode sweetheart,” he growled.

  “Then I guess it’s best that we get you inside…”

  “Yes,” he agreed breathlessly.

  Cocking her brow, Raeve smirked, “…of me.” Coyly, she slipped his hand between her thighs. “I―I…oh God, Aidan…yes.” His fingers grazed over the sensitive button of her clit, working it in small circles. Pressing her back against the cool metal of the truck, her shuddering body coiled around him as he taunted her with the delicious sensations his fingers were causing.

  “Is this what you want?” he drawled, sucking in air through his teeth. His body blasted her with another round of inferno fire, deliciously burning her as she writhed against his touch. “Tell me you want me,” he urged. The seductive rasp of his voice, so dark and deep sounding punched her straight between the thighs as she gripped his arms for dear life. She couldn’t think, she could barely breathe as he grazed over the silk covering her smoldering essence.

  “Tell me…or I’ll stop,” he growled in her ear.

  “I want you,” she panted. Pulling back to stare him down, the darkness in her eyes fell away as lust consumed her.

  “Now,” she growled. Her teeth gnashed together, and the primal need to devour and be consumed in return, tore away any rational sense she had left.

  He didn’t spare her a second glance, quickly he scooped her up into his arms and stalked toward their suite. Her breasts shuddered with every breath, and she shivered each time he nuzzled her neck. His lips barely brushed over the small beating of her pulse as he pulled out the card key to enter.

  “How badly?” he pressed.

  The burning heat of her stare shot him a knowing glare, as she licked her way up to the soft curve of his ear. “Bad,” she taunted.

  Though the room was dark, silvery streams of moonlight shimmed through the curtains, hitting the floor. His surefooted steps carried them over the threshold, and with one swift movement he kicked the door shut. They were once again alone, and her lips begged to taste his once again. She couldn’t wait, didn’t want to. Cupping his face between her palms, Raeve stared squarely into his eyes as she lowered her lips to his. “I’ve wanted you all night.”

  ***

  As dawn’s early light splintered through the crimson curtains, Raeve’s heart thrummed like a hummingbird in flight. Everything since she had arrived had seemed too perfect. Felt too perfect. Every stolen glance now lasted longer. Every soft kiss, full of love and sensuality, quickly tumbled into urgency. The past two days had flown by, with hours to go before her flight, every part of her felt alive. Each time he touch her, a renewed feeling of electricity coursed through her veins.

  She had learned so much more, being with him like this. Aidan guarded her like a sentinel with his protective nature whenever they had gone out. He had shown her nothing but kindness, to the point of denying himself until she had her fill. With each new memory, her heart fluttered more. She didn’t want to fall in love, but somehow she hadn’t just fallen, but jumped in feet first.

  Her body ached deliciously from head to toe as she settled against the pillows. The heat rolled off his body even while he slept, providing her with all the warmth she ever thought she’d need. His arm wrapped around her waist as he curled around her. His soft snore and quiet murmurs as he slept filled the void of silence lingering in the still room. She tried in vain to make out what he was saying, but only caught clips and fragments. Casting a small smile, she held his arm tighter, interlacing her fingers through his. The suppleness his of skin pressed against hers felt like heaven as she nestled against him.

  He had sinfully tormented and pleasured her body in so many ways, filling her up in ways she had never known possible, and still she craved more. Greedily so. Closing her eyes, her thoughts drifted to dreams of a future, where she awoke every morning in his arms. Where no one else, and nothing else mattered. Just a private oasis made for the two of them. She was going to miss this. The quiet moments wrapped up together in their solitude. Glancing at the clock, a sudden sadness pricked her. She was just a few hours away from leaving the man she felt beating inside every chamber of her heart.

  Dawn had barely skimmed across the horizon as she lay quietly next to him. Her body begged for sleep, yet her mind fought the idea off violently, as she prayed with everything she had this wasn’t to be the last time she was with him. He was just a few weeks away from deployment. Although he tried to make light of it, she saw the same worry in his eyes that she felt deep in her heart. She knew there had been a possibility of it, but she hadn’t expected to fall hopelessly in-love with him. She had hoped this trip would have proven that all her late night musings about him were just silly ideas she had concocted. Instead it convinced her of her true feelings.

  For all the hours they had spent on the phone, all the sweet letters he had written her, telling her how much he missed her each day, she had prayed for the strength to let him down gently. Her will crumbled the moment he held her close. She hadn’t wanted to fall in love, especially not to someone who may not be here tomorrow, but she was lost to him.

  Clutching his arm as if it were her personal life-support, she realized all those long glances over the past couple of years had carved a hole in her chest that was just waiting for him to fill it completely.

  ***

  “Sweetheart, are you ready?” he asked quietly, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, resting his chin on her shoulder as she stared back at their reflection in the vanity mirror. She felt her body tremble under his embrace, and her heart dropped to her knees as his cool breath swept past her cheek.

  “Yeah, I’m ready.” Her voice fell as she zipped up her bag.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Pulling her to face him, his warm hand brushed down the length of her arm, gently easing her closer.

  “Nothing,” she lied. “I’m fine, just anxious about flying.”

  The grim nod he afforded her said he saw throu
gh her bullshit. Yet he didn’t call her on it. Simply pressed his lips to her brow and held her close. His hand slipped over hers to retrieve her bag, as he tucked her under his other arm.

  The warm feel of his arm wrapped around her back, touching her until she climbed back into the truck felt like that comfy blanket of life support she needed to stay afloat. In just a few short days everything she thought she knew about herself, about her feelings for Aidan, had taken a violent turn toward something she wasn’t prepared for.

  The drive was quiet, with only soft music spilling from the radio to break the silence. Her breath hitched in odd ways each time she slid a sideways glance toward him. His stoic expression was unreadable even when he thumbed over her hand. What was she to think? Maybe he didn’t have the same feelings she did. Maybe he was ready to drop her off for good and go along on his merry warrior way. The thought of him saying goodbye and never speaking to her again, never coming home and pulling her close for a kiss, nearly sent her over the edge. She felt the stirrings of her world careening out of control, ready to crash down on her dreams, and she was helpless to stop it. Dangerously so. How she had let this man get under skin and make her feel, when she was so driven to remain immune to anything and everyone, knocked the breath from her lungs. The thought of never seeing him again weighted down on her like a ton of bricks.

  The long walk up to the gate didn’t yield much conversation either. Only a few glances passed between them followed by a couple of quick kisses, as her trembling hands searching for his. “I wish I didn’t have to leave.” She spoke softly, testing his interest.

  “Me either, sweetheart. I wish I could tie you to my bed.” He smirked. His eyes played hell on her as he looked over every curve of her body. Wrapping his arms around her, Aidan refused to let her wiggle from his embrace. “I don’t think my bunk-mate would mind it much either.”

  Slapping his arm, Raeve’s blush returned in full force. “Brat,” she laughed. The image of her wrists tied with her scarves, similar to the previous night’s round of love-making assaulted her in hypnotic droves. “I bet it would freak him out for sure. Maybe for good measure we should head back and try it.”

  His chest rumbled with his deep throaty laughter as his supple lips curled into a devious smile as he considered her idea.

  “Flight 1083 to Manchester, New Hampshire will start to board in five minutes. Please have your boarding passes ready,” the nasally voice called over the loud speaker. Her heart sank, realizing that she was but a few minutes away from leaving him.

  “Time to go, sweetheart.” He motioned her toward the gate, but didn’t pull his hand free from hers. The sadness that stained the edges of his words mimicked her feelings.

  Shaking her head, her heart screamed to say the words that were itching to bounce off her tongue. She slid her arms around his neck, and all she could do was bury her face in his shoulder to hide the tear that slipped past her brave facade.

  “I’ll miss you,” he whispered, and her heart nearly shattered at the sincerity of those few syllables.

  His lips captured hers before she could pull away, caressing the warm flesh as he slipped into her sweet mouth.

  Raeve sank into this kiss like it was the last. Cupping his head to keep him close, letting him go was the last thing she could do. She didn’t care if the rest of the world fell away into a black hole. She was right where she belonged. Wrapped in his arms, enveloped in his kiss… the rest just didn’t matter.

  Her lips trembled against his as he slowly broke from their kiss. Breath sawed out of him as he stared into the depths of Raeve’s eyes. She swore his eyes penetrated her with silent promises of a better tomorrow.

  “Go,” he urged, stepping away from her. Nodding to him, she hated the fear was riding her so hard, she couldn’t make the words come out as she turned toward the gate.

  “Raeve,” looking back at him, her heart sank at the inevitable goodbye. “I’ll call you tomorrow, sweetheart.”

  Smiling back at him, she hoped it was more than just a pleasant sentiment. “Okay.”

  Knots grew and twisted violently in her stomach with each step she made toward the gate. She needed to tell him that which she had fought to deny. She didn’t want to admit it, but looking at him standing there stoically watching her leave, made her break through the barriers of her internal limits. It was now or never, and regret would tattoo her heart forever.

  “Aidan” she called out over the swarm of passengers, seeking him out. His ocean blue eyes shot straight to hers as he walked closer to the gate.

  “Yes,” he smiled.

  “I―I think I’m in love with you.” The words flowed from her lips before she could call them back. In that one moment, her body felt lifted as if wings had sprouted from her back. The delicious crimson that stained his cheeks stunned her into silence as she turned to board the plane. She had actually said it, out loud. The last sight of him― beaming with the same smile he had the night of their first kiss― settled over her like a warm blanket welcoming her home.

  Sinking into her seat, she saw him standing at the terminal window, his hand touching the empty reflection, watching until the plane pulled free from the gate. A smile stayed stretched across his handsome features until she finally lost sight of him. Biting down on her lip, she was still reeling in disbelief, she had done it. She’d told him. Feathering her fingers over the last place his lips touched, Raeve couldn’t remember a single time when her body had felt more alive. Stirring with a new sense of excitement, her heart fluttered like a hummingbird with the fear that she might never see him again. Sending a small prayer to the heavens, Raeve asked for some higher power to protect the one person who promised to protect the world.

  “I love you,’” she whispered as the plane pulled away from the port. “Always.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Night descended on them, and Aidan felt the inevitable dread of what his leaving might do to her. He watched the painful display of Raeve trying to behave as she had it all under control, but the truth was obvious. The last time he left, she had fought through her worry to remain strong for him. This time, after so many years, things were different. The silence had stretched on for too long as he sat back, watching and waiting for her to say something, anything.

  “I’m going to miss this,” she finally spoke softly.

  “Miss what, sweetheart?”

  “Miss being with you. God, Aidan, two years…I can’t be without you for a week, let alone two years.”

  His eyes stayed locked onto her profile as she leaned against the railing overlooking the city. Her hair danced in the light summer breeze as she rested her chin on her knuckles. Everything about her screamed sensuality, but it wasn’t until that moment he realized how truly beautiful she was. All she had been through, all she survived, and here she stood, wanting him more everyday. He admitted to himself he had been rough on her when she returned to his life, after years of separation. He hadn’t cut her any slack, but here she was, fighting for him.

  “Raeve…” Smoothing a hand down her arm, the memory from the first time he went overseas assailed him with a fresh wave of fear that things might repeat themselves. “I need to say something.”

  “Yes.” Lifting her head, she turned to face him. Her hand instinctively found his, and she thumbed over the tight tendons.

  “Why did you leave me when I was in Kuwait?”

  “We’ve been through this. Really, must I keep explaining the same reasons over and over to you?” Closing her eyes, her serene posture instantly became rigid as she turned away from him. “Those were dark days for me, Aidan.”

  “Yes, but I don’t understand. I’m sorry. Please… help me understand, sweetheart,” he pleaded, cupping her arms and turning her to face him. He needed to see the truth in her eyes. She had explained it to him, but he still didn’t understand her reasons. Nothing about it made sense.

  “Why?” she sighed.

  “I just need to know. Why did you leave me, really
? Was it because you found someone else?”

  “No,” she bit out. “And why would you assume that?” her voice seeped acid as she rolled her eyes.

  “Because that was what I was told.”

  Scoffing at the idea, it didn’t surprise her one little bit. “Yeah, by who?” she challenged.

  “Doesn’t matter who, is it true?”

  “It does matter,” she shot back. Her back went pin straight as she leveled him with a deadly, serious glare. “It matters to me. I know what I’ve done and what I haven’t. Who told you that I left you for someone else?”

  Exhaling a heavy breath, he considered her for a brief moment. “Gillian and Andrea.” he finally said.

  “Why the fuck am I not surprised by that?”

  “Why would they lie to me about it? Please tell me.”

  “Because they hate me! They always have. You have no idea the things they said behind my back, and to my face, when you left. None. And FYI, I never cheated on you. Nor did I leave you for anyone.” The inner fight he loved about her reared its head again, wondering how much more he could provoke it to come out, as her anger riddled through the room. He loved the fierce way she stood her ground, not backing down even when she knew, he was trying to coax her into argument.

  “Then please, tell me what happened. Make me understand. Because as far as I’m concerned, you were the one who broke my heart. You were the one who left me. So excuse me, if my trust in you is a little shaky.”

  Raeve backed away from him, throwing her hands up. The past guilt and regrets came flooding to the surface, and Aidan knew, just knew she would explode. “Fine you want to know? As if I didn’t hate myself enough back then, given everything I had grown up with, then to contend with a group of girls all vying for your attention and affection. I basically painted a target on my back for gossip and bullshit. Your precious little liars loved to talk shit, even when I was standing right there.