by Zena Wynn
“Me, too.”
“Well, look, I know you like to get your sleep on when it’s your day off, so I’ll let you go. You think about what I said.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Von smarted, making a snappy salute in the mirror.
“Fool.” Marketta laughed and disconnected the call.
Von put the cordless phone in its cradle and went into the bathroom to shower. Though it was still early, only eight, she was too alert to return to bed now.
As she showered, Von considered Marketta’s words. Her cousin had a good heart, although the way she spoke sometimes, a person who didn’t know her would have difficulty believing it. Her main concern was that Von hadn’t experienced life. Marketta thought she was too sheltered and if she married Derrick now, Von would regret it later on. She wanted her to get out there and experiment, taste freedom, enjoy a bit of variety and then, if Derrick was still who Von wanted, marry him with a clear conscious knowing she’d made the best choice.
Knowing that Von’s mother’s lifestyle of drugs and men had put her off the idea of sleeping around, Marketta pushed instead for Von to take the plunge with Derrick, see what he was like as a lover before she said ‘I do.’ Something Von agreed with, but not for the reasons Marketta stated.
She and Derrick had been a couple since she was fifteen and he eighteen. At the time, she’d been spending most of her time at Marketta’s trying to avoid her momma’s various live-in boyfriends who thought breaking in a ‘pretty young thing’ was a wonderful idea. Sex was the last thing on her mind, and she’d been happy to finally find a boyfriend, a senior no less, who respected her values. Who respected her, and wasn’t just spouting words to lower her guard so he could get into her pants. They held hands and kissed, but Derrick wasn’t touchy-feely like other guys. It was wonderful.
Like her, Derrick came from a single parent home, only he lived with his father while she lived with her mother. Derrick didn’t like talking about his mother. It upset him every time the subject came up. Since she pretty much felt the same way about hers, it was simply another level where they’d connected.
After a few months of seeing each other, Derrick had taken her home to meet his father. Pastor Derrick had invited her to attend their church, and she’d gone, not knowing what to expect. Only knowing her agreement seemed to make Derrick happy.
Their relationship had lasted through Derrick’s four years of military service. Derrick had started hinting at marriage while he was in seminary. The wedding was still a year away since Derrick wanted a chance to settle in his new position as junior pastor of the church before marrying. But Von was getting impatient. Did Derrick want her because he loved her as much as she loved him, or because she made the ‘perfect’ minister’s wife and his daddy approved of her?
Pastor Wilkins had spent the last eight years training Von to be Derrick’s wife. Monitoring where she went, who she hung out with, influencing what college she attended and even which career she chose, and making sure there was no other man in the picture. Since she loved Derrick and knew even in high school that he was the one she wanted to marry, Von hadn’t minded—much.
In fact, she owed Derrick’s father a great deal. Understanding that her home situation was undesirable, he’d pulled some strings and used his connections to help her get her first efficiency apartment, despite her young age. He’d taken her around and helped her get decent furnishings dirt cheap, and been instrumental in helping her find work in what eventually became her field of study—respiratory therapy. He’d even talked one of the church members into giving Von her first car.
But now that she was older with her own career, her own apartment, and her own life, Von was troubled by how much of their lives Derrick Senior still seemed to dictate. That’s why she’d begun listening to Marketta more and more. Well, that and the fact that she was twenty-six and no longer a scared teenager. Von wanted to know what she and Derrick were missing out on.
While still a virgin, Von was no stranger to sexual pleasure. She’d learned self-gratification, but wanted to know what sex would be like with the man she loved. She thought Derrick felt the same way. Sometimes their necking would turn into heavy petting. Derrick always called a halt before things got too far, but with each session it was getting harder and harder for Von to hold back, longer to regain her balance. It bugged her that Derrick seemed to have so much control. Last night was the first time she’d seen him crack.
If only his daddy hadn’t called...
The man must be psychic. Every time she and Derrick came close to crossing any lines, the phone rang. Who was she kidding? Maybe it was God using Pastor Wilkins to keep them from making a huge mistake.
Sighing, she turned off the shower, dried off and went into the room to dress. She had a lot of chores to do today and they wouldn’t get done with her sitting around the apartment.
Chapter Two
Staff Sergeant Sean “Cougar” Jacobson looked around the quarters that had been his and what remained of his team’s home for the last six weeks. It was good to be back in the US. He had eight weeks of leave coming to him and this time, he was taking them. While he was away, he had decisions to make. One of which was whether to re-enlist. After his team’s last botched job, the decision was not as easy as it should have been.
Each time he left on a mission, he knew this one could possibly be his last. The knowledge that he might not make it back alive had always been acceptable as long as the mission was successful. Now, however, after experiencing torture firsthand, Sean was no longer quite so confident that the military was his life as he’d come to believe.
Then there was the other thing that happened to him...
Corporal Cameron “Spook” Rodriguez slapped him on the back, interrupting his musings. “Serge, you remember what I taught you. Call if you run into any problems.” Spook arched his eyebrows meaningfully.
Sean gave a brief grin. “I doubt I will. Your instructions were very detailed and thorough.” His smile faded. “I never thanked you.”
Spook flushed. “Ah, don’t mention it.”
“I have to. What you did for me and the others, you saved our lives.” Spook was the youngest, most inexperienced member of his team, and surprisingly had turned out to be the one with the ability to save them all.
Spook looked down at the carpet. “Some would say I damned you for all eternity.”
“Hey! I’d rather be,” he glanced around furtively and lowered his voice, “a werewolf—”
“Lycan,” Spook corrected.
“Lycan,” Sean corrected himself, “than dead.”
Spook raised haunted eyes to Sean. “Too bad the others didn’t feel that way.”
He laid a comforting hand on Spook’s shoulder. “Cam, you tried. You made the offer when you didn’t have to. Those of us who took it—”
“Who survived,” Spook interjected.
“Who survived,” Sean acknowledged, “appreciate you for doing so.”
Their special ops team of ten had been ambushed while on a mission to find and destroy a newly formed al Quid’a cell the government got wind of in the jungles of Central America. Those who hadn’t died in the ensuing firefight had been captured and held hostage. The terrorist bastards had no intentions of releasing them, but got their jollies torturing them one at a time for information they knew the men hadn’t possessed.
It was then that Spook revealed he was Lycan born. First he explained what it meant, and then he offered to transform them. The process was not without its own share of danger. First they had to survive a vicious attack by Spook in wolf-man form. Unlike in werewolf legends, a simple bite wouldn’t do. If Spook managed not to kill them—and there was no guaranteeing he wouldn’t since the taste of blood could make him loose all control—then the virus could.
The L-virus is what transformed them into Lycans. The virus attached itself to the Y-chromosomes, causing delirium as their body temperature spiked to inhuman levels while the virus took hold. The onset lasted ab
out thirty-six hours and it took about ninety-six for the virus to run its course, with the first twenty-four hours being the worst.
If the fever didn’t kill them, then they still had to survive their first shift with their sanity intact, which occurred during the first full moon after being bitten. Despite the risks, Sean had jumped at the opportunity. Given a choice between possible and sure death, he’d chosen transformation. As leader, he’d demanded to be first.
Of the eight of them that had been captured, two refused, one didn’t survive the attack and another didn’t survive his first change. And only the four Lycans—Spook, Weasel, Monk, and him—made it out of Central America alive.
“Well, remember the Lycan brotherhood is everywhere, even where you’re headed. You have any trouble, give me a call and I’ll put you in touch with folks who can help. You still have the numbers I gave you?”
Sean patted his chest pocket. “Right here.”
“Good.” Spook cleared his throat and seemed uncertain what to do next. He looked like a father who didn’t want to let his kid go off to college, but knew he had to release him to the real world sometime. Smiling wryly at the thought, Sean reached over and lifted his gear off the bed.
“You tell your girl I said hi. Bet she’ll be happy to see you.”
Adjusting the strap of his duffle on his shoulder, he corrected Spook. “She’s not my girl. Von’s engaged to a former army buddy.”
“She’s not married yet. That means you still have time.”
“I told you, Hooch is a friend. I wouldn’t do him like that.” At one time, Hooch had been a brother to him, had even saved his life once during a firefight by pulling him out of harm’s way. You didn’t repay a man by stealing his girl.
“Sure, Serge.” Spook’s expression spoke volumes. “You just remember what I told you. See you when you get back.”
Sean nodded and walked out the door. Only to himself did he admit that he was in love with his best friend’s girl, and if Von ever looked at him with a hint of the love he felt for her, screw friendship. He’d do whatever it took to make her his.
****
Sean caught a hop into Fort Stewart and arranged lodging on the base. MWR arranged for a car rental and gave him a map of the area. He picked up his truck, went to a nearby Wal-Mart to purchase some additional supplies, though he could have bought them on the base, then returned to his room to settle in.
Once he unpacked, he picked up the remote, turned to CNN Sports and watched a baseball game, more as a way to pass the time than out of any interest in the sport. Inside he was a bundle of nerves. Former Private First Class Derrick “Hooch” Wilkins had encouraged him on more than one occasion to come for a visit, but was the invitation still open? It had been years since they’d seen each other, though they still kept in touch via email and Facebook.
His friend, Hooch, was a minister now. A freaking man of the cloth. There’d been nothing holy about the guy he met in basic training and later deployed in the same unit with to Iraq. That guy had been pure trouble, proving the maxim about preacher’s kids to be true. They’d tagged him with the moniker because of the amount of liquor he consumed and his winning way with the ladies. Sean shook his head. Unbelievable.
And Von? Did Hooch know his woman still wrote to him? Sean picked up the recently opened packet of letters that were never far from his side. She’d continued to write and email even though he’d dropped off radar for several months. Von knew his job was frequently dangerous. He’d never gone into detail but had given enough hints that she knew not to panic or think he was ending their friendship if his end happened to go silent for weeks. But he’d never gone months without responding. From the letters that had caught up with him after everything was over, she was frantic with worry.
He brought the envelopes to his lips and kissed them, wondering if Von knew exactly how much of herself she revealed in the lines on these pages. She was so fucking beautiful to him. It didn’t matter if she was black, white, Hispanic, or Asian. Her soul radiated beauty. Derrick was a very lucky man. He wondered if the bastard realized how lucky.
Finally, evening arrived. Tight with nerves, he dialed Hooch’s home number. The phone rang several times with no answer. Just when he was about to hang up, Hooch answered. “Hello?”
“Hey, stranger. I hope that invitation to come visit is still open.”
“Cougar?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“How are you? Where are you?” Hooch sounded happy to hear from him.
With a silent sigh of relief, Sean collapse against the backrest of the couch. “Fort Stewart for a little R and R.”
“Stewart? That’s right up the road,” he exclaimed.
“That’s the plan. So, that invite still good?”
“Yeah, man! I can’t believe it. Wait until I tell Von you’re here. She’s been asking about you,” Derrick said excitedly.
Heart thumping at the mention of her name, Sean counseled himself to play it cool. “Oh, you two still kickin’ it?”
“We’re getting married.”
“Lucky bastard,” Sean told him with feeling.
“Don’t I know it.”
“So when’s the happy event?” he asked, dreading the answer.
“Not for another year.”
Sean scowled. “Why so long? Aren’t you afraid someone will steal her out from under you?”
“Von? Man, she’s crazy about me. She’s not going anywhere.”
Fool, he deserves to lose her, taking a beautiful woman like Von for granted. If she were his, he’d have bound her to him in every way possible as soon as she said yes. “You know her better than anyone,” he said, keeping his thoughts to himself.
“True that. We’ve been together a long time.” Derrick sounded smug. “So, how long you here for? How soon can we get together?”
“A couple of weeks. You tell me. I’m footloose and fancy-free. You’re the one with the nine-to-five.”
“How about tomorrow night? Von’s off and there’s no service or meetings at the church. Chili’s sound good?”
“Works for me. I can go for some ribs.” He paused to take a sip of his beer. “Hooch, I can’t believe you’re a minister.”
Derrick gave a sheepish laugh. “Yeah, well, what can I say? I’m following in the old man’s footsteps. And call me Derrick. That’s who I am now. Hooch is long gone.”
From what Hooch, make that Derrick, had revealed about his father, deep in the night when confessions flowed, in his place Sean wasn’t sure he’d want to. Derrick Wilkins Senior sounded like a religious fanatic.
“I finished seminary and made junior pastor at our church. Dad suggested giving myself time to get used to my new responsibilities before adding a wife to the mix. Von understands and agrees. He’s been grooming her to be a minister’s wife, so she knows what’s important.”
Sean bared his teeth and growled inaudibly. “That’s great,” he forced out through clenched teeth, knowing full well how Von felt about continually being pushed to the side, coming in last on Derrick’s priority list.
“Hey, listen. I’ve got to run to a meeting, but we’ll definitely get together tomorrow, say six?”
“Sounds good.”
“It’s the Chili’s on Ashley Road. Google it and get the directions.”
“Will do. Check you tomorrow.”
“Later.” They both disconnect.
Sean sat staring blankly at the television. Tomorrow he’d meet the love of his life for the first time, face-to-face.
****
Von fumbled with the door and set her laundry basket down in the entryway, pulling her ringing cell phone out of her pocket, catching it on the last ring. “Hey!”
“You sound out of breath. What were you doing?”
“Laundry. You caught me with my hands full.” She pushed her basket clear of the doorway and shut the door. Then, with the phone tucked between her shoulder and ear, she toted her clothes to the couch and set the basket on
the coffee table.
“Guess who I spoke with last night?” Derrick asked excitedly.
“Who?” Only half listening, she reached into the basket and grabbed a pair of lace panties to fold.
“Cougar.”
“Who?”
“Sean Jacobson,” he said impatiently, like she should know immediately who he was talking about.
The panties slipped from her fingers onto the floor and she clutched the phone to her ear. “Your army buddy, Sean?”
“Yes. He’s in town, at Fort Stewart. He called last night.”
Stunned, she stared blankly at the wall in front of her. “That’s...wonderful. How did he sound?”
“He sounded like the same old Sean. Said he was taking me up on my invitation to come and visit. We’re meeting tonight at Chili’s and I’d like you to be there.”
“Sure. I’d love to meet him in person.” That was the understatement of a century.
“I’ll be by to pick you up at five-thirty. Wear something pretty. I want him to see I wasn’t exaggerating when I told him how beautiful you are.”
Despite her spinning thoughts, Von managed a slight smile at the sincere compliment she’d just been given. “Thank you.”
“I’ve got to get back to work. See you tonight.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Von snapped her phone shut and brought it to her lips.
Sean’s alive and in town? Why hadn’t he contacted her, returned any of her letters or emails? She didn’t have any answers. Maybe tonight she’d get some, but that presented another problem. Von had never told Derrick that she’d continued to keep in contact with Sean after his discharge. It wasn’t like it was a big secret or they’d done anything immoral, but by keeping quiet and for so long, Derrick was sure to take it the wrong way if he found out now.
Tonight was going to be interesting in more than one way.
Suddenly joy welled up inside. He’s alive! She’d begun to believe he’d gotten himself killed on some fool mission. Blinking away tears of happiness, she slid open her phone and typed out a message on the keypad: Call me! The hunk’s in town.
