Mariam shook her head from side to side. “No, it is okay commander Hawk.”
Sarah walked towards her, and after stopping directly in from of her, held her hand out. “Come, my brave one. Be with us, together. You are family.”
Mariam hesitantly lifted her hand towards Sarah. “Thank you, my Hukut.” Mariam beamed with pleasure.
Sarah held her hand firmly and led her back to the group where Asha and Caleb parted ways for her to stand between them.
“Here, next to me.” Asha said, putting her arm around her.
“Okay, time to go.” Ron announced, anticipating the evening ahead.
Ron and Sarah jubilantly stopped at the front door to give a final wave to the family. Ron's eyes caught Mariam's and he began to go towards her when his mother stepped in front of him. “Ron, go on and have a good time. All of us kids will have a very fun time together, right guys?”
Ron looked at his mother and smiled. Then he looked at Mariam, “Behave yourself and have fun.”
The festivities at the Christmas Ball included an overabundance of food, Christmas music, toasts, tributes, and a live band. Ron's promotion ceremony initiated events, a consensus of leadership decision-makers to get formal stuff out of the way before the fun.
The ceremony included awards, recognitions, and a brief slide show, encompassing his career with 5th Group. There was one picture surprising both Ron and Sarah, showing the two of them getting married in Germany.
“Did you take that shot?” He asked Chris sitting next to him.
“Nope. Wasn't me.”
When the food and dessert made its rounds along with the social chatter, the live band playing Christmas music throughout the meal began breaking down their equipment. One of the members transformed into his DJ role, setting up new high-tech speakers and sound system. He began by playing some of the latest sounds from the past year. Then he announced, “Let the dancing begin!”
Several soldiers, officers and enlisted together, scurried to the dance floor with their significant other. “Come on Hawk, let's dance!” Sarah was pulling him up before he could find an excuse to decline.
Chris started laughing until Carole grabbed him. “What's so funny, mister. Let's go.”
Soon, the dance floor was packed. Hip-hop gave way to slow dancing and vice versa. Sounds from the eighties blared across the floor along with other oldies but goodies. Several group songs from the nineties attracted another crowd. “You sure know how to give a promotion party.” Chris yelled during one of the dances.
Ron's mind began envisioning the remaining part of the weekend, the one where he could be alone with Sarah. Looking at his watch, he anticipated the approaching reality. “Excuse me for one sec.” he suddenly said to Sarah, “but don't go anywhere.”
“Alright. I'll be here.”
He walked up to the DJ and whispered something into his ear. Sarah saw the DJ nod with approval.
Coming back, Ron looked into Sarah's eyes. “This one's from me to you.”
After the last song ended, the DJ announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please? We have a special request by the man of the hour, Command Sergeant Major, Ron Hawkins!”
There was applause and whistling. As if prompted on que, the dance floor emptied for just the two of them, while everybody else formed a circle around them. The lights dimmed and the song, Waiting for a girl like you, by Foreigner, reverberated from the speakers. Ron said, “Princess, I love you so much. You are my dream.”
Sarah smiled and touched his face. “I love you, Ron. More than words.” Then she rested her head on his shoulder and held him tightly as they swayed to the tune. Then, everybody else joined in together with his or her partner.
After a little more than an hour drive to Nashville, Ron had a valet take care of his vehicle and luggage as the two of them strode into the Opryland lobby. Sarah whispered in his ear, “Why are so many people looking at us?”
Ron whispered back, “Most people stare at royalty and know a princess when they see one.”
“Or a handsome price,” she countered with a smile.
They strode together towards the elevator that would take them to their suite, on the top floor overlooking the city.
“I dreamt of this moment the whole time I was over there.”
“But you didn't know we would be here.”
“Doesn't matter. Wherever we were going to be when I returned, I envisioned looking deep into your eyes and seeing your beautiful smile again; feeling your soft hand.”
As they approached the silver doors, one man, pushing buttons, looked up at Ron questionably, finger still near the panel.
“Ten please.”
The man pushed the button and then leaned back with the female he was with along with another couple. Everybody had his or her polite smiles turned on.
One of the men spoke as Ron placed his arm around Sarah.
“Thank you for your service.”
“It's an honor, sir. Thank you for your support.”
The man's wife, Ron assumed, found courage to speak after the silence was broken. Looking at Sarah, she asked, “Where did you get such a gorgeous dress?”
The other woman was nodding her head. “Yes, please tell us.”
Sarah blushed while putting her hand on
Ron's shoulder. “My husband gave it to me for my birthday.”
“Well, your husband certainly has good taste”. The woman answered.” The two men in the elevator raised their eyebrows.
Thankfully, for Ron, the elevator stopped on the seventh floor and the four strangers exited. “Have a nice evening and Happy Holidays,” one of the women said while leaving.
“Merry Christmas to all of you!” Ron replied.
Finally, the elevator stopped at the tenth floor with a ding. The doors opened to a luxurious lounge leading to a couple of doors. Ron led the way and Sarah followed him until he stopped in front of a door marked, “Honeymoon Suite.”
Ron announced, “Since this is a honeymoon suite, allow me to carry you through the threshold.”
Sarah giggled. “My pleasure, prince charming.”
Ron picked her up and brought her into the gorgeous three-room suite, carrying her into the spacious living room before setting her down gently. Their overnight baggage was set neatly at the foot of the bed. Sarah reached up to Ron's face and kissed him softly, adding, “Let me slip into something more comfortable.” She reached down to remove her Mark Lemp Classic, Leash shoes.
Ron smiled. “Okay, if you insist. He answered while removing his jacket and walking towards the coat closet.
“I have a surprise for you.” She said while opening her suitcase discreetly. Then after pulling something out of it, she walked briskly to the large accompanying bathroom, ensuring the door closed behind her.
Ron watched her until she was out of sight, and then removed his tie. After unbuttoning his shirt, he walked over to the sliding glass doors leading to the balcony. He paused briefly to step outside and take in the brisk cold air while overlooking the city lights.
Looking up into the night sky with the glistening stars, Ron spoke softly, “God, thank you for bringing me to this very moment. Yes Lord, thank you for protecting me and watching over me in every way.”
Backing inside, he closed the glass door in front of him and locked it. When he turned around, Sarah was standing there in a black transparent negligee-blouse holding her arms out towards him. The song, One on one, by Hall and Oats was playing softly in the background. The lights dimmed—He looked at her passionately. “Wow babe, you-you look…stunning!” Ron had trouble finding the right words to describe her.
“Shall we have one more dance?”
Ron looked directly into her glistening eyes, reached over to place his hand under her chin, and said, “Princess, you are so beautiful. I thought I would never see your lovely smile again. You-you're like a dream.”
Sarah hushed him quickly by planting her lips on his, leaving them t
here for a few seconds before slowly pulling back. “How about that dance now?”
Together, on cue, they held each other close and swayed gently back and forth to the tune.
“You picked me up quite easily at the door, Hawkman.”
“Yes, I did. I was full of vigor.”
“Okay then. Get ready.”
Slowly, Sarah led his hands down her back, stopping them at her upper thighs. Then she moved her hands on the back side of his neck and held his deltoids firmly.
“Ready, Hawk?”
“Go for it, princess.”
Sarah lifted her legs off the ground and wrapped them behind Ron's lower back as he held onto her legs. Their lips met gingerly at first touch, but burst with excitement in seconds until Ron carefully laid her on the King size bed. Pulling away briefly and extending his arms into a push-up position, Ron looked down at Sarah and smiled. She stared back into his eyes and smiled, rubbing the back of his head with her hands. The two lingered a moment, gazing at each other, totally immersed with each other's presence.
Sarah slid her hands down onto his face, stopping them beneath his chin. “I'm all yours, Mr. Hawkins.”
Ron grabbed her left hand and turned his head to kiss her palm. Looking back down at her, he replied. “And, I'm all yours, Mrs. Hawkins.”
Now Available
Millennial Girl
The Hawkins family saga continues when Asha comes of age in 2025. Following the footsteps of her father by becoming the first female “Green Beret” Asha is sent on a Top Secret mission to face the diabolical world of Human Trafficking and cybernetic replication. The stakes are high in this multi-billion dollar industry as Asha discovers both the external and the internal threat to her own life.
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