by Denise Riley
“It’s been so long since I’ve had the flavor of you, Jess. I need to taste you.”
“Oh, jeez.” Jessica felt her sex instantly go moist. “You can’t say stuff like that,” she said.
She would have clamped her thighs together to stop the flow had he allowed it. But, Tyson held her fast in the pose he preferred.
“Ah, sweetness.” She heard the smile in his voice. “You know what I want.”
She did. Jessica knew exactly what he wanted, but wasn’t at all sure she could take it.
******
Tyson was fully committed to making Jessica repeatedly come with his mouth. When the taste of her had first hit his tongue he was lost. She was just as sweet as he remembered. She was even more responsive now than she had been years back. Jessica was slick and wet and pulsing and gushing. He loved it. He couldn’t get enough. Every flick of his tongue sent her flavor exploding over his taste buds. Her clit was swollen and stiff, peaking out from it’s hiding place. He sucked it and raked his teeth over it. He knew how she liked that. Every whimper, every moan from the back of her throat, sent a jolt to his dick. Damn, damn. He needed control. Jessica was begging for release, and Tyson wanted to give it to her. He wanted to pound into her and race toward the end with her screaming his name in his ears.
He shifted on his knees and grabbed her hips. He yanked her down on the bed, ready to push himself into her wet, willing body. Just as he poised for entry, she shot up on the bed and pushed her palms against his chest. Tyson halted and in that slight hesitation, Jessica had taken control and pushed him down on the bed.
She leaned over him and kissed a path from his navel down to his erection. She kissed the head of his sex and then moved her mouth to lick from the very base of his shaft up to the mushroomed tip. Jessica slowly and deliberately licked the line between the two points, repeatedly stroking the bulging veins. It made his rod thump and jerk. She remembered how much he enjoyed that. When she cupped his sack and sucked him deep within the confines of her wet mouth, he knew she was trying to break him. Had he not been so enraptured by the pleasure he was receiving he might have laughed. Jessica had always challenged him. It was part of what made being with her so perfect. There was no shyness or embarrassment between them, just pure, unadulterated pleasure to be had in each other arms.
“Baby, I can’t take that. It’s too much. Gonna make me come.” He breath was coming out in harsh bursts.
“Do it. Let me taste you, Tyson,” she said over his rigid flesh.
“Next time,” he said as he reared up and flipped her over.
She gave a little growl of disappointment, but it was cut off as Tyson came down over Jessica and immediately attacked her mouth. The taste of him on her lips mingled with the taste of her on his. It was carnal and erotic and they drank of the elixir like it was some life-saving potion. He shoved his knee between her legs and spread her thighs. Jessica raised her hips and he sank into her.
Heat. Liquid heat pulsed around him. The soft, spongy flesh of her channel conformed and contoured, covering every inch of his steel-hard manhood. Exquisite pleasure. Deeply satisfying pleasure moved in waves over his body. It radiated out from his loins only to travel back and concentrate there with every move of his body within Jessica’s core.
Her legs entangled his and Jessica hung on to him as Tyson pushed into her over and over. Theirs was a rhythm all their own, like a unique cadence beat out by a well-practiced drum line, that was accented with their grunts and pants, their moans and whimpers. He told her how good it was and she told him that she was his alone. Fast then slow, then fast again they went. They changed pace; they changed positions; they changed locations. And none of it was enough. On and on they went with the desire and the aching need continually ratcheting up inside them, between them.
When Jessica let out a keening wail, Tyson knew she was at the tipping point. He dug his hands in her hair and grabbed the sides of her head to anchor her. He wanted to see her face when she came for him, when she came with him.
“Look at me, Jessica,” he commanded. His voice was as rough as gravel grinding over rocks. “Look at me, baby.” He tugged lightly on her hair to get her attention.
Jessica moaned, then dragged her eyelids up and locked eyes with him.
“Don’t take your eyes off me. Ok? Stay with me,” he said as he pushed and pulled in perfect synch with her body. She nodded, her lips slightly parted. He kissed her hard and quick, and then focused his eyes on hers again.
Deeply probing strokes set his teeth to grind. Clutching, sucking inner walls of her sex set his spine to tingle and his balls to fist-tight. Tear-glistened brown eyes set his heart to melt.
Tyson was lost to her.
And in being so, he was found.
“I love you, Jess.” He kissed her again, putting everything he felt into it. “I love you, baby. Always,” he said. She sobbed. “Come with me, love.”
Jessica came apart around him. Her internal walls convulsed and seized. His manhood stretched and thickened. Jessica cried out. Tyson shouted. Sweat covered their bodies as limbs locked. Moisture flowed as her channel flooded and his rod jetted inside her. It was messy and loud, and up to the point where he collapsed on top of her, they had kept their eyes focused one on the other. It was incredible, amazing. It was incredibly amazing, Tyson thought.
As their breathing calmed and their heart rates slowed, Tyson held Jessica to him. He didn’t want her to move away, didn’t think he could take any distance between them after what they’d just shared. She didn’t complain in the least, instead crawled as deep into his embrace as was possible. He kissed her temple and brushed her hair and stroked her back. She sighed and squeezed his sides and kissed his neck. Total contentment, absolute bliss. Those were the best words to describe what he felt...until she said, “I love you, too.” Then the only word that came to Tyson’s mind was forever.
******
“Hi,” Jessica said as she stretched her limbs. She had awakened to find Tyson watching her. “What are you doing up to early?” She knew it was early; her internal clock was typically accurate and the sky outside her window was just beginning to lighten.
“Watching you sleep,” he replied and brushed her disheveled cloud of hair back from her face.
“That’s gotta be pretty boring stuff, Ty,” she said with a smile.
“Not in the least,” he replied. “It used to be a special treat. We didn’t get to sleep in much at the academy. I only got to wake up with you when we were on break together or got a long weekend.”
“I remember,” she said. He leaned in to kiss her softly.
The simple kiss quickly reminded Jessica of everything that had happened the night before - the heat between them, the desire and the complete fulfillment. It had been wonderful, mind-blowing...potentially life altering. That was the part that thrilled her and also gave her pause. Tyson had told her that he loved her. Jessica was afraid that it had been said under the influence of lust and sex and the unimaginable need that might have crushed their free will. She didn’t want him to feel obligated, or feel that she would hold him to the words that might have been borne of the moment instead of true emotions.
She’d easily returned the words, but now she wasn’t sure how he felt knowing how she felt. Maybe it was too much pressure, more than he’d bargained for. It killed her to bring it up, because the words Tyson had spoken had torn her apart while simultaneously mending everything that was broken inside her. She had longed to hear those words from his lips again since...since he’d said them to her the last time they had spoken years past. But, she needed to tell him that while she had meant every syllable, it was ok if he hadn’t. Who was she kidding? She would not be ok if he wanted to take it back. Not in the least, based on the constricting sensation in her chest.
“Tyson?”
“Yeah?”
“I meant what I said last night.”
“About?”
“When I said that I love you,” she sa
id.
“I’m glad,” he said with smile. He quickly kissed her again and turned to get out of her bed. He started walking toward her bathroom.
“You are? Ok. But, it doesn’t mean that you... I just want you to know that I’m ok if, well you know, if you feel differently...” She trailed off and couldn’t finish. He paused at the threshold of the bath.
“Differently, how?” he said, turning to look at her. With him standing there naked like he was, it became hard for Jessica to concentrate. She blinked at him with a blank mind for a moment. “Different how, Jessica?” he prompted again.
“Things often look different in the bright light of a new day,” she said.
He gave her a confused look.
“What? Jessica, what are you talking about?”
He put his hands on his hips. Her eyes strayed to the semi-aroused flesh jutting between his thighs. He looked so damn good. How did he do that? Look amazing and sexy and edible first thing in the morning. Jessica was pretty sure she looked a mess. He looked good enough to... Jessica started when Tyson snapped his fingers and called her name. He was smirking at her.
“Do you need me to get dressed so you can focus?” he asked, voice deadpan.
“It wouldn’t hurt,” she mumbled. She wrapped the sheet around her upper body and sat up in the bed.
“Tell me what’s bothering you,” he said.
“I don’t want you to feel like I’m going to hold you to what you said last night. It was the heat of the moment. It’s ok to tell me if you’re feeling differently this morning.”
Tyson’s eyes narrowed on her. He seemed to weigh her words, and maybe, how to respond. Was he thinking of reneging? Damn the man!
“You don’t believe...”
“Tyson, look, you don’t...”
They’d started speaking at the same time and were talking over each other. He held up a hand, and Jessica clamped her mouth shut. Tyson crossed from where he stood and came back to the bed. He quickly yanked the covers off of Jessica causing her to squeak at the sudden and unexpected action. Tyson grabbed her under the arms and hauled her out of the bed, placing her on her feet directly in front of him.
“Sgt. Watts, look at me,” he commanded. Jessica rolled her eyes and twisted her lips. When she refused to meet his stare, he put his hand on her chin and forced her compliance. “Stubborn,” he muttered. “Jessica, I love you. I’m pretty sure that I never stopped. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed since I said it or what we were doing when I said it. I meant it. I meant it last night and I mean it now. I love you. Got it?”
“Yes,” she said with a satisfied sigh.
“Say it,” he demanded as he picked her up. She wrapped her legs around him.
She smiled and said, “Got it, Sir.”
“Good,” Tyson said, and then he walked them to her shower where he promised to show her, again and again, just how much he meant the words that he’d said.
Chapter 15
Two days. Two days and she’d be heading home, leaving the war-ravaged Afghanistan. Leaving the place she had occupied for 12 months. It had been a little preview to hell – death and despair, resistance and resentment, heat and dust, fatigue and discomfort. Jessica didn’t want to leave. To qualify, she didn’t want to leave Tyson. She’d be leaving him to return to the US, to return to her home post. He still had almost two months in country.
The last weeks of her tour had been amazing. They’d loved and laughed and learned what it meant to be together again. Jessica was on cloud nine. Hell, she was on cloud ninety-nine. He loved her; she loved him. She prayed they could figure out how to make it work. She wanted so badly for it to work. Six years they’d been apart. Six years she had thought of him, of them and what they’d had and what they’d lost. Jessica didn’t want what they’d built in the last months to end. She was literally afraid to leave for fear that the “out of sight out of mind” thing would chip away at what they’d been able to build back. Knowing Tyson would take offense at her lack of faith, she kept her fears to herself and prayed, hoped, crossed her fingers when he wasn’t looking, that when he returned they would figure out how to be together.
Jessica sighed and continued to gather up her things. Tyson would be coming by for her soon. She needed to finish up her packing. They were meeting Kendall and Marcus for one last night of fun, drinks and music and food, in Marcus’ room this time. They’d all become good friends in the last weeks and it would be hard to leave the three of them behind in the harsh environment. But, Jessica knew the boys would keep and eye on Kendall until she left, and Kendall would make sure they took care of themselves.
Her last night would be spent with Tyson, alone. Jessica rubbed her hand down her face. She was determined not to get too emotional. She also resigned herself to possibly having to be satisfied with what she’d been able to share with Tyson in Afghanistan, to the possibility that it might all end the next night. All she could do was wait and see how it all played out when he returned home.
******
Tyson logged into his account and tried to make the Internet connection he needed. He willed Bethany to answer. Jessica had been gone for almost a week, and now that she was out of Afghanistan he didn’t have to worry about screwing up with Bethany’s calls or getting caught online with the other woman. He’d been trying to reach Bethany for a few days. Tyson didn’t know if she was avoiding him or retaliating for the many times he’d ignored her calls or dropped off the line suddenly. At any rate, he wanted to talk to her and was frustrated that she hadn’t been available.
He was just about to give up on the call when the connection made and her attractive, familiar features were visualized on the computer screen.
“Tyson. Hi,” she said happily.
“Hey,” he answered, glad that he’d finally gotten through to her.
“I’m glad you called,” she said in a sweet voice.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m glad you answered.”
******
Marcus sat in his bed reading over the letter he’d gotten for the third time. It was from Terri Lassiter, his friend’s wife...widow. He’d written to her after he’d been unable to get her on the phone or computer. She wrote to apologize for not answering calls and emails, stating that it had been too hard for her to connect with anyone in the days shortly after she’d gotten word of Lassiter’s death. She told him that she appreciated the messages though, admitting that it had helped to hear the voice of a friend, of someone who’d been so close to her husband.
Marcus had apologized to her in his letter. He’d apologized for failing her, for not making sure her husband made it home. It had been his longstanding promise to Terri. Whenever they left on a mission or were about to be deployed, he’d stop by Kellan’s and Terri’s home to see Jacob and eat a good meal. She’d pull him aside, and tell him to take care of himself and to watch her husband’s back. He’d promise to make sure Lassiter made it back safely. She’d promise to pray for him just like she prayed for Kellan. She’d hug him, and Marcus would leave knowing there were people who cared if he survived the war. He looked down at the note Terri had sent, at the part he’d already re-read.
Don’t blame yourself, Marcus. I can’t believe you even wrote the words on paper. I’d smack you if you were anywhere near close enough to hit. Kellan loved you like a brother. He’d be mad as hell to know you were wishing it was you instead of him. This isn’t your fault and you didn’t break your promise to me and Jacob. I know you, and I know you did everything you could to watch out for Kellan over there. Come home safe.
She’d gone on to write that she and Jacob expected to see him when he got back. Terri had said that she was glad that he was ok, glad that he was coming home. Marcus didn’t understand how she could be. How, when he was the one with the least to lose and he’d make it back but her husband wouldn’t? It would have been better if it had been him instead of Kellan. Marcus had no wife, no kids, no parents or siblings to speak of. He didn’t even have a dog
. It was just him and a house, a house he didn’t know why he’d bought when there was nobody to live in it with him.
Rubbing a hand down his face, Marcus put the letter aside. Terri’s letter should make him feel better about going home in a few weeks, but somehow it just made him feel guilty. Then, he felt guilty for those feelings because he knew Terri in no way intended to make him feel responsible for her loss. She didn’t deserve the burden of his guilt. She deserved to have her husband. Since Marcus couldn’t make that happen, he vowed to do everything he could to make sure she and Jacob had everything they needed to get through the loss and to live as good a life as they could without Kellan.
Chapter 16
Tyson was on a flight home that would land in minutes. Jessica was at the airport to meet him, to surprise him, when he got through security. She was excited, overjoyed that he was arriving safely, and on the verge of vomiting because she was so nervous. It had been seven weeks since she’d last seen him in person. Seven weeks since she’d touched him or held him. They had kept in touch through Internet calls as often as they could. Sometimes talking through Skype made her miss him more than she did when she couldn’t see him or hear his voice at all. But when he would tell her he loved her and that he couldn’t wait to be with her again, she’d be loathe to close the connection knowing she’d have to wait impatiently until she could see his face on her computer screen again.
Jessica got up to pace. She’d been waiting at the airport for about an hour. She hadn’t wanted to be late, but the waiting made her antsy. So, she walked the corridors leading to the terminal gates just outside of the security checkpoint. She took in the sight of the moms and dads, the children, the siblings, grandparents and friends that were gathered around to greet loved ones. There were wives and girlfriends, husbands and boyfriends, there to do the same. Some had signs; others had flowers or balloons or gifts. All were excited and joyous, knowing their family members were making it back safely one more time.
