She was certain that if she hadn’t had cut ties with Tuck, that Kyle would’ve had him killed. Kyle had friends all over and a certain charm that made men follow him or at least do his bidding when asked. She couldn’t risk Tuck’s life not for her, he was much too important to her, he still was. It was at that moment she decided that she needed to go to the Flight Line tonight.
“Chief! Chief Andrews are you still with us or did you have a stroke?” the Colonel asked jokingly.
“Yes, Sir I am truly sorry I went off into my own world for a moment.”
“Well, we can explore that instead if you like?”
“Sir, would it be okay if we cut today’s session short? I need to run to the bank before it closes.” That was a lie, but it was the only excuse she could think of that would get her outta that office and back to her apartment. She had a meeting to arrange-she hoped
“Yes of course Chief. You seem out of sorts today so by all means, take the time to recharge and I will see you Monday.”
“Yes Sir, Thank you Sir.”
Riley grabbed her bag and headed out the inner office door, as she exited, she hadn’t expected nor was she paying much attention to others in the waiting room, but she ended up running smack into someone as she left the inner office. Knocking her bag to the floor, spilling some of the contents onto the floor in the waiting room.
“I’m so sorry!” she said as she bent down to pick up her belongings that had spilled onto the tiled floor. The man bent down to assist her in retrieving her belongings.
“Here let me help you.” His voice sounded familiar to her she looked up through her eyelashes and then quickly felt the heat spring from her toes to the top of her head. It was Tuck- the beard now gone, it was unmistakable, he was still as sexy and hadn’t changed one bit, the muscle in his jaw cliched, then a wide smile drew across his face.
“Fallen for me, I see.” He grinned.
“I wouldn’t go that far Tuck.”
“Oh, so you do recognize me?”
“Well, yea-Now I do.” She grabbed the remaining contents then stood up.
“Good, I thought maybe you had forgotten about me.” He replied attempting to find his footing. Grabbing the edge of a chair to leverage his way back up.
“Need a hand?” she asked holding her hand out to his.
“Sure, Thanks.” Riley pulled slightly and then Tuck was standing before her once again, she hadn’t let go of his hand and she could feel the heat of his hand course through her body. She was on fire, she stood standing in front of him, images of naked standing in front of her flashed in her mind. She couldn’t help it, he had that effect on women, he had that effect on her.
Tuck smiled knowing he had to choose his words wisely “I kinda need that!” referring to his that Riley still held tightly. “In fact, it’s startin’ to tingle a wee bit. You got a grip on ya!” He held back saying anymore but what he was thinking had more to do with what her grip would feel wrapped around his cock.
“Oh, Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” she replied her voice flustered as she released her grip at the same time swinging her bag over her shoulder, smackin’ Tuck in the jaw.
“Oh my God Oh my God I am such an idiot. I’m so sorry!”
Tuck began to laugh and before he could say another word she was gone or at least running out of the office and down the hallway. He thought about chasing her but then before he could the woman behind the counter greeted him.
3
Tuck pulled his truck into the first spot he eyed not far from the entrance of the club, so it made for an easy escape if he needed it. Some of the Townies that frequented the bar stood just outside. Most smoking while the others, who were too drunk to care, tried to hold their drinks in their hands and flirt at the same time. Most if not all looked the same as they did six years ago in fact if he had to guess they probably were the same people.
Flight Line had a way of bringing in the townie females. All. Of them had one thing on their minds- catching themselves a pilot and living the rest of their lives in what he could only assume would be PX Bliss or whatever they called it. All he knew was they would be in for one hell of a surprise if they snagged themselves a service member. The Post Exchange didn’t stack up to the hype.
Tuck got out and made his way through the smoke-filled entrance. He wanted to remind them that they were supposed to be fifty feet away from any entrance, but he suspected it wouldn’t matter. They wouldn’t pay much mind to him anyway- he was a civilian now and no amount of wishing would make it any different.
Tuck didn’t have much use for the townies but now as a civilian he suspected he was probably viewed the same way. Pushing his way past the smoke and thru the door the bouncer sat collecting cover charges and checking IDs. It was dark and the music blared a loud country dance song; paying his cover charge he eyed the bar across the dance floor. He had yet to see Top or Taylor, but he hoped he might get lucky and run into Riley, but he didn’t dare hope.
Ordering his drink Tuck leaned back against the bar and watched the line dancers. Finally seeing Top and Taylor both already three sheets to the wind and dancing up a storm on the dance floor. As he watched the pair, a couple of townies attempted to pull him onto the dance floor while they were flirting trying to convince him to dance.
One of the ladies pulled as the other wrapped her arm around Tuck.
Townies he muttered under his breathe.
“Come on cowboy let’s get those wranglers on the dance floor so the rest of the bar can admire that tight. ass of yours.”
Tuck stopped “Thank you ladies but I am waiting for someone and as you can see, I have a bit of a limp from an injury I sustained on my last deployment. But I know you will find someone that would love to twirl you around the dance floor.” he politely declined, and the ladies unapologetically found themselves another cowboy to pester.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t dance, it was just more painful than it was enjoyable. But he had told himself that if Riley showed up, he would take her on the dance floor and show her a good time. It seemed she might need a good time and Tuck would be just the man to show her.
Tuck went back to the bar, sat down and ordered a beer, the bartender quickly brought his drink and he quickly drank down half of glass when out the corner of his eye he saw Top. He laughed to himself as he watched Top attempting to get close to every pretty little thing on the dance floor. It was quite a sight to behold and he thought if he watched him long enough, he might learn something, but Top was much too aggressive for Tuck. Not aggressive physically of course it was much more of a confidence he had shown in his ability to woo the local females. And as Tuck observed Top was quite good at it because in the time frame, he had observed him, he had convinced one to go home with him.
Watching Top and the woman leave, Tuck smiled Well at least someone is gonna get some he thought as he made his way through the crowd towards the bathrooms. Eyeing the door and pushing his way thru he didn’t notice coming in from the side was Riley, who was heading in the same direction but heading right towards him. Before he could do anything and move out of her way, she had run right into him, knocking the drink from both their hands and drenching them both.
Riley was more than a little drunk she was a lot drunk and could barely stand. Barely able to stay on her feet she cursed him “Hey watch where your goin’ cowboy.”
Tuck smiled down at her and held her up so she wouldn’t slip on the beer that had not only covered them both but also all over the floor.
“You ran into me Riley.” Tuck replied.
Riley hadn’t looked up, as of yet but when she heard his voice her head shot up and their eyes met. Riley stood staring at the six-foot two-inch tower of a man, his white t-shirt wet with beer and his Wranglers fit so tight she thought he would burst out of them. She looked him up then down and noticing every detail from the brim of his black Stetson to the heel of his Tony Lama’s. They fit every curve and Riley stood still her mouth hung open.
“Ya know… if ya keep that open too long, flies are gonna set up shop.” He teased.
Riley, still stunned, was so inebriated that the words she spoke slurred, she mumbled something and quickly ran off towards the bathroom door, bouncing from wall to wall and into people as she passed them. Finally slamming into the bathroom door, she disappeared inside.
Concerned, Tuck hung out near the bathroom and waited for her to emerge, leaning against the wall to take pressure off his leg and lower back he didn’t have to wait long When she finally emerged she bounced towards Tuck, her smile as wide as he had ever seen “You know what you can do Tuck Frazier, you can……”
Before she could finish Tuck latched his arm into hers, wrapping it around her waist as he spun her around pulling her against him as he guides her to the dance floor. As the music plays Riley leans in closer leaning her head into Tuck’s chest. Tuck can feel her breathing and feel the heat of their bodies against each other. For the first time in a very long time he feels like this is where he is supposed to be- in her arms. He could feel her eyes on him and looked down into hers, a slight hint of light hit the iris of her eyes and they seemed to glimmer as they floated on the dance floor. The music now seemed to echo in the background, and they were the only ones there. Riley pulled Tuck closer to her and pulled him down to kiss him. Tuck reciprocated and deepened their kiss and embraced her tighter. When Riley pulled away for a moment what she said almost made Tuck forget what his momma taught him she said “I want you now Tuck! Take me back to your apartment and make love to me. Please?”
“Riley, darlin’ you are drunk why don’t you let me take you home?”
“No, I want to go to your place. I want you to fuck me until I can’t walk.”
“Alright Riley you win! I will take you to my place and we will see what happens.”
Riley pulled on Tuck, trying to pull him out the door but he stopped her “Where’s your purse? Did you bring a purse Riley?”
“Nope, got it all right here.” She pointed to her back pocket and she pulled out a small ID holder.
“Alright, darlin let’s get you somewhere you can sleep this off.”
Riley stumbled as they headed towards the door and Tuck then figured he best grab her up before she hurt herself so, he scooped her up and put her over his shoulder. Riley smiled and giggled as Tuck held her one hand on her ass the other holding her legs. Riley lifted up and grabbed Tuck’s Stetson off his head and she slapped it on top of her head. Tuck kicked opened the door and Riley yelled out to all “Bye fuckers I’m goin to go ride this cowboy Peace Out Bitches!” The entire club exploded in celebration.
Tuck didn’t have far to carry her until her reached his Truck and he set her down on the passenger side and shut the door. When he reached the driver’s side and got behind the wheel, Riley had leaned into his lap and was attempting to unzip his jeans when she passed out.
Driving home Tuck was relieved Riley had passed out. He wanted her as much as she wanted him, but he would not take advantage of a drunk women. He was completely sober, and she was beyond drunk. Pulling into his townhouse complex and into the garage he gets out, picks up Riley carries her to his apartment.
Tuck stood at the door debating on how he was going to open the door with a one hundred- and twenty-five-pound women in his arms; he did the only thing he could do and that was to put her down leaning her into him as he unlocked the door. He then picked her up and shut the door behind him, kicking it with his foot as he carried her into his bedroom. He laid her down, took her shoes off, and laid her phone neatly on the bedside table.
When he finished pulling her shoes off, Riley raised up and attempted to pull him into the bed with her. “Stay Tuck, Please.”
“I can’t Riley, as much as I would love to, I won’t take advantage of you in this position. Darlin’ you are drunk, and I want you to remember every moment of our time. I don’t need alcohol to make love to you and I hope you won’t need it to make love to me. I want you to know exactly what you are doing and who you are doing it with, and I want you to remember every moment of it.” He said as he helped her lay back down and then stood up, bending down only to kiss her forehead. “Get some sleep darlin’ your gonna need it. I will be just outside on the couch if you need me.”
Getting into his closet he grabbed a blanket, a pillow and shut the door behind him.
4
When his alarm blared in his room Tuck jumped up and ran to his bedroom turned off his alarm then quietly snuck back into the other room. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he made his way into the kitchen, starting a pot of coffee and switching on the television and took a seat on the kitchen table.
Flipping through the channels, they seemed to blur as his mind seemed to drift off in thought. Most of the time his thoughts took him back to the day his unit was attacked and the guilt that still plagued him. The night had been questionably a quiet one, the first in a very long time. It was the first night in many nights that he hadn’t had a flood of nightmares wake him or had a need to take the sleeping pills or any of the meds he had been prescribed.
Instead, this morning, he thought mostly of Riley, their past and well of hers. She was an enigma, the tough, hard as steel woman who despite all his efforts to forget had stayed upmost in his thoughts for the past six years. He couldn’t get her out of his head or his heart. And as much as he wanted to know what had happened between them, he was also glad it had happened in the face of all that had happened to him, he didn’t want to put her through what many of the spouses and significant others had experienced. He didn’t want to look on her and feel her stare of sympathy. He wasn’t sure he could take having her look upon him with anything other than admiration and lust.
Riley stirred in the bed, the sounds of birds chirping and the sun that pierced through the drapes part directly into her eyes, was woke her. But it was the smell of breakfast that eased her until she realized she was in a strange bed her clothing still on from the previous night minus her shoes. Searching the room for some sort of clue to where and with whom she was, she eyed a note folded neatly on the pillow next to her. Unfolding the note Riley read it to herself:
“When you wake up come on out and I will get you a breakfast plate, we can have some breakfast then you can shower and clean up. I have a t-shirt and sweats sitting on the edge of the bed you can change into so you won’t show up at the gate in last night’s clothes and a pair of shower shoes you can wear instead of those three-inch heels.”
Folding the note back up, Riley walked out of the bedroom still unsure of whose home she was in as well as where she was, but she did know that he had been a gentleman, she was safe and he did not take advantage of a drunk woman in a compromising situation. Whoever her savior was he had made sure she was safe and cared for.
Poking her head out the door she sees Tuck standing in front of her, his back facing her, he’s still wearing those tight jeans from the previous night but now he’s standing just feet from her without a t-shirt on and from the looks of the angle of his jeans the zipper in front was not zipped. He hadn’t changed at all from the man she had spent months chatting with online via video chat and memories flooded back to some of those chats when they had gotten naked for each other on video.
Her face blushed just thinking about those days and now here he was just feet in front of her no shirt on standing at his stove frying bacon. Tuck Frazier was still sexy as sin and now she wanted him more than ever. Riley held herself off from tackling him to the floor and jumping him right there on the kitchen table. Instead, finally getting up the courage, she steps out of the bedroom and announces herself.
“Well, at least I know there are still gentlemen in this world. Thank you for what you did last night. I appreciate it, you could’ve taken advance of the situation, but you didn’t and for that I want to thank you.”
Tuck turns to look at her, his square jaw tenses, and the little muscle pulses, then he smiles a wide smile “No problem Chief, it’s the least I can do for a f
ellow warrant.”
“Well I appreciate it. What are you doing now?” Riley asks.
“Currently?” he teases “Currently I am cooking breakfast.”
“No, I mean here at Rucker?” she smiles.
“Well, I would say lately it appears I’ve been a thorn in your side. Sorry about that by the way.”
“Oh, it’s okay, Top says I am too sensitive about my ride.”
“Nah, I don’t agree with that I was the same way with my rig. I shouldn’t have been messing with it.”
“No, Tuck you were fine. I… Well I didn’t recognize you. I thought you might a been one of those contractors we’ve have snakin’ around post. It wasn’t ‘til I overheard Top speak with you after I kicked you outta my rig and attempted to throw you off post. Before I called the MPs, I would’ve given you a chance to explain yourself.”
“It’s truly okay, Riley. We are good.” Tuck replied his smile almost piercing through her jeans sending waves of well she wasn’t sure yet, but he did have a way of making her want him.
“Good. Thank you. So, what are your plans? Will you be staying here at Rucker- taking the job I mean?
“Well Top really didn’t give me a choice. I will be coming in as a civilian instructor. It will be a transition for me.”
“You’re not active duty?
“No not anymore. Medically discharged six years ago. Been in Atlanta for just about as long flying rich assholes around”
Tuck grabs a plate filling it with bacon and scrambled eggs then turned towards Riley placing the plate in front of her. The evidence of his medical discharge stares directly at her. Scars the length of his torso from what she could see at his hip, up the length of his chest to his shoulder. A tattoo covers the majority of the scaring- the unit crest and a black silhouette of a soldier kneeling in front of a battlefield cross. Limping as he walks over to the table, he places the plate of food on the table then pulls the chair out her.
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 299
