“Hey, Package Daddy,” Patrick said, pulling me in for a bear hug.
Cody snorted a laugh, keeping his hand at my lower back.
“Thanks for everything.” Tyler hugged me next.
Kyle, who was the biggest of them, picked me up off the ground when he embraced me.
“You’re welcome,” I told them, sliding my hand into Cody’s.
I had no intention of ever letting him go.
Once Cody was able to leave the base and we returned home, Cody wasted no time before pulling me into the bedroom.
“Aren’t you hungry?” I asked between kisses.
“Not for food.” Cody popped the buttons on my shirt before taking it off me and going for my pants.
He pushed me against the wall, kissing my neck as he slipped his hand between my legs. As his slightly calloused hand stroked my stiffening cock, I dropped my head back and groaned. I had relieved myself plenty during his absence, but having his hand on me was completely different.
“Fuck, I missed you,” he whispered, pressing his face into my neck. His hand continued to stroke me.
“How much?”
Cody answered with a growl and wrapped his muscled arms around me. I was off the floor and thrown onto the bed within seconds. I stared at Cody as he approached, his gait like that of a predator. He pulled his shirt up and over his head, exposing his rippled abdomen that seemed even more toned than it had been when he deployed.
Heat spread to my groin, and my cock twitched. Cody was too beautiful.
Leaning forward, I grabbed him by the waist and pulled him on top of me, capturing his sweet lips. I worked his pants down, and once we were both naked, I flipped him to his back and kissed a trail down his stomach to his cock.
Cody sucked a breath in between his teeth as my mouth encircled his swollen tip. His fingers knotted in my hair, and the groans coming from him had me so aroused I could barely think. His flavor hit my tongue as pre-cum beaded in his slit, and I licked it off.
“I can’t wait any longer,” he panted, leaning his head on the pillow and arching his back. “I need you, Sebastian.”
“You know I can’t deny you, Mr. Miller.”
“Yeah?” A raspy chuckle reached my ears. “Then stick your dick in me, Doctor, because it’s been nine months and I’m about to lose my damn mind.”
I prepped him first, stretching him with my fingers before moving up his body. I spread his legs farther apart and settled between them, staring down into the eyes I loved. He smiled, and the tenderness of it pulled at my heartstrings. After slicking my cock with lube, I pushed against his entrance.
Cody bit his bottom lip, his brow creasing in the middle.
I kissed the center of his head before pushing more. Once I was inside, Cody groaned and clawed at my back, begging me to fuck him into the mattress.
The sex was incredible.
Just like the man I loved.
Neither of us lasted very long. He felt too amazing, and the way he cried out my name told me he felt the same about me. Cody tensed before he shuddered, and I followed him into that bliss. My orgasm was intense, and it seemed to go on and on before I collapsed on him.
I held him afterward, kissing his damp forehead and trying to grasp that he was really here.
“You okay?” He snuggled in closer.
“Never been better.”
“I’m tired,” Cody said. “But I kinda don’t want to close my eyes, you know?”
He didn’t have to say why. I’d had many dreams where he came home, only to wake up and feel the crushing weight of reality.
“Just think.” I glided my fingertips along his shoulder blades. “When you wake up in the morning, I can order some donuts.”
“Are you bribing me with sweets?”
I smiled. “Possibly.”
“Can they be maple flavored?”
Kissing the top of his head, I hugged him as close as I could. “Whatever you want.”
When I fell asleep at last, it was the best rest I’d had in nine months.
Waking up the next morning with Cody’s arms around me and us twisted in the sheet…there were no words. I nuzzled his cheek before grabbing my glasses off the nightstand. He stirred and squinted at me, momentarily confused, but then he smiled.
“Morning,” he croaked.
“Good morning.” I pressed our lips together.
“I can’t wait to marry you,” he said. “The thought of it helped me over there.”
“Does it bother you that it will be my second marriage?” As I asked the question, the tips of my ears tingled, both from embarrassment and nervousness.
“Not at all.” Cody sat up and angled his body over mine. He kissed me once. Twice. “I might not be the first, but I know I’ll be the last. And that’s what counts. To me, anyway. Can we send an invitation to Emily, though?”
I laughed and rested my head on his shoulder, adoring the way his skin smelled in the morning. “You do remember she got married, too, right? If your aim is to make her jealous, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”
“Nah, I’m not that mean.” The mischievous gleam in his eyes said otherwise. “She can have a plus one to our big day and bring the baseball champ. Maybe he can sign a ball for me or something.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you being facetious?”
“Me? Never.” And there it was, the lopsided grin. “All I’m sayin’ is a guy who knocks balls around is nothing compared to one who is on his way to saving the world like you. Brains over brawns for me any day.”
“Then, I suppose I’m the most fortunate in this situation, because I have a man who is both intelligent and strong.”
Cody pecked me on the cheek and got out of bed. The dips in his lower back drew my attention, and my morning arousal twitched. He pulled on a pair of sweats and came back over, resting his muscled arms on each side of me on the bed.
“One day, once my active duty commitment is met, I’m gonna work with nanotechnology,” Cody said. “I did some reading on my laptop on nights when I couldn’t sleep, and the prospects for mechanical engineers are increasing. I was thinking of maybe working in the aerospace industry, but doing more nano stuff might be more in my interest. I don’t know yet.”
As much as his body turned me on, his mind did so even more.
“Well, you have a few years to decide,” I said, touching my head to his. “Let’s get something to eat.”
“You didn’t eat anything yesterday, did you?” he asked.
“Guilty.”
We went down to the kitchen, and it was like old times. I started the coffee while Cody leaned against the counter, watching me. Staying true to my promise, we got in the car to pick up donuts. Usually, I would protest at eating nothing but sugar for breakfast, but Cody being home was a special occasion.
“Are you okay?” I asked, after seeing him stare off a little too long.
“Yeah.” He smiled and squeezed my hand. But then, the smile slipped and his lip trembled. “Actually…I don’t know. I, uh, I’m sure a lot of people go through it after their first deployment, but I’m just…feeling off.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like, I know I’m right here with you, but I still feel thousands of miles away. And some of the thoughts in my head are hard to process. It started while I was over there, and I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Perhaps it’s something you need to talk about in your classes.”
After a deployment, there were mandatory classes Cody had to take to readjust to home life. He was allowed to have this weekend off, but he would start the week-long course on Monday.
“Yeah, probably.” His mouth curved, and it was genuine this time. Tender, even. “It’s good to be home. You don’t know how much I missed you.”
My universe had aligned itself once again.
***
The chapel was stunning.
As an atheist, I never thought I would marry in one. Eve
n with Emily, the ceremony had been outside, behind her parents’ mansion in the countryside. But Cody had wanted to marry in the military chapel at Camp Lejeune, and I knew how important it was to him.
The stained glass windows were remarkable, and the ceilings were high. The flags at the altar and the few hanging throughout added to the military ambience. Neither Cody nor I were big on decorating, but Lucy had helped us choose tasteful decorations and flowers that weren’t too flashy for the ceremony.
Guests arrived, some of them servicemen who wore their uniforms. In fact, there seemed to be a lot of Marines and their dates filing into the building. More than I expected. Cody was loved and respected by many, and it was amazing to see…if not a little nerve-wracking. I recognized faces from the science community, as well; men and women I worked with here in North Carolina and ones I had met in past years.
I stood in a back room, separated from Cody and trying to calm my racing heart.
“You look magnificent,” Lucy said, squeezing my arms before stepping back and giving me another glance over. She wore a floor-length navy blue gown that had a lace back and modest neckline. Her blonde hair was in a low ponytail and braided to the side.
“Thank you.” I was wearing a black tux with a high button stance to compliment my slender build. Or that’s what Lucy had said when she helped me select it, because I was the least fashionable man alive. “How long before it begins?”
“Ten minutes. Are you panicking? You’re a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” Mostly. “Where’s Jared?”
“I think he’s with Cody.” Lucy smiled. “He should pop in and see you soon.”
Cody and I had decided to break tradition with the ceremony. Instead of one of us walking down the aisle, we both were. He would go first and take his spot at the front, followed by his groomsmen, and then I would follow behind him. Lucy was walking with me when I went down the aisle, and Cody was walking with Rachel, who had flown in from Hawaii with Marcus.
There was a knock at the door before it opened and Jared appeared.
“Everything okay in here?” He walked closer and stopped a few feet in front of me. “Well, you look a lot better than your soon-to-be husband. The man can’t stop shaking.”
Fear struck my chest.
“Is he having second thoughts?” I asked.
“No, no. He’s not.” Jared waved a hand at me. “He’s just nervous.” After checking his watch, he said, “I’m going to take a seat. The place is filling up in there.” He kissed Lucy on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, honey. You look beautiful.”
When it was time to start the ceremony, my legs felt as though they were about to give out. I hadn’t seen Cody since early this morning, and I wasn’t sure how I would react when I finally laid eyes on him again.
“Ready?” Lucy asked, looping her arm through mine.
Unable to speak, I nodded.
Music began to play from inside, the orchestra composed of cellos, violins, and a piano. Lucy and I took our places behind Tristen, who would be walking before me. Anthony, Patrick, Tyler, and Kyle were in front of him. I moved to try to see Cody but couldn’t.
“Breathe,” Tristen said with a grin, turning to look at me. He wore his uniform, like all the other Marines in the wedding party.
“I’m trying.”
Cody walked on his cue, but I couldn’t see him through all the people in the chapel. Anthony went next, and then the others. Tristen went after them, a cocky smile in place. I didn’t see Blake anywhere.
Then, it was my turn.
I had never been one to show much emotion, but when I entered the main part of the chapel and saw Cody standing at the end of the aisle, my vision blurred with unshed tears. Wearing his dress blues, he stood with his hands joined in front of him and his back straight. My eyes didn’t leave him as I walked down the aisle.
His eyes didn’t leave mine, either.
When I reached him, Lucy kissed me on the cheek and went to stand to my right. Cody held out his hand to me, his smile bright.
I placed my hand in his, choosing him today. Choosing him always. My heart was in my throat as I stepped forward and faced him. The chaplain began the service, giving a short but beautiful speech.
“Falling in love is easy,” the chaplain said, “Staying in love is harder. Love is much more than romantic gestures and kisses under the stars. Love is coming home after a long day at work and meeting each other in the doorway for a kiss. Love is holding each other while watching too much TV. Above all, love is love; regardless of age, gender, or race. And today, we celebrate the love between Second Lieutenant Cody Miller of the Second Combat Engineering Battalion, Second Marines and Doctor Sebastian Vale as they journey into the next stage of their lives.”
We took turns saying our vows, and when Cody teared up during his, it caused me to, as well. His hands shook as he slipped the ring on my finger, or maybe it was my hands that shook. I then said my vows and put the ring on his, our misty gazes locked.
“I now pronounce you partners for life.”
Cody slid his arm around my waist and kissed me. People around us cheered, and men hollered when Cody dipped me a little and deepened the kiss. I held onto him tighter before breaking the kiss with a laugh.
We held hands as we walked back down the aisle together, smiling and nodding to our friends and guests. As we departed the chapel, honor guards in their uniforms held swords in the air and created an arch with them in front of us.
“The Arch of Sabers,” Cody whispered in my ear. Delight filled his tone and reflected in his eyes.
It was military tradition for the newly-married couple to walk under the arch and complete the symbolic passage into their marriage; a custom to welcome the new spouse into the military family. I was honored to be a part of it.
We kissed before walking under the swords. People from the chapel came out to watch, cheering for us. My face hurt from how much I was smiling. As we reached the last two members of the guard in line, they lowered the swords and blocked our path. Then, one of them swatted me on the backside. I jolted, not expecting it. Usually, that was tradition for the brides; I didn’t know they would do it for us, as well.
The sword bearer who swatted me exclaimed, “Welcome to the United States Marine Corps!”
There was an echo of, “Ooh-rah!”
Cody’s smile mirrored mine as he tugged me toward him and claimed my lips again.
Cheers and people talking surrounded us, but it was as though everything became muted. I looked at Cody, admiring the freckle above his lip that I had first noticed when he was still just a student in my class.
It seemed like a different lifetime when Cody barged into the professors’ lounge, beatboxing to the sound of the printer…when I first saw him in his service uniform in class…when I first kissed him in my office…and when we said our first goodbye.
And now he’s my husband.
“Now we get to party,” Cody said, still holding my waist. “To the reception we go.”
“You’re just excited about the cake.”
His dimple flashed as his brow arched. “You caught me.”
The reception was held at Marston Pavilion, and the view was spectacular. Overlooking a part of the New River, the location was picture perfect. Cody and I took our wedding photos on the white dock, some of them with just us and others with our wedding party. Then we went inside to cut the cake.
Another military tradition was to cut the cake with a sword. I held the sword, and Cody placed his right hand over mine, and together we cut the first slice. Pictures were taken, flashes coming from everywhere. Cody, the goofball, dabbed frosting on my nose before licking it off. There were so many laughs. Some even came from me. After the cake cutting, we were finally allowed to mingle with the guests.
“Congrats, Package Daddy,” Patrick said, shaking my hand.
Kyle and Tyler hugged me at the same time with me between them, not as formal as Patrick.
In the
two months they had all been home from Afghanistan, they had become family to me. As a child, I had been alone. My mother had been addicted to pain pills and never around. I never had many friends or people I could confide in.
And now I had a huge family. Because of Cody.
“Sebastian?” Emily appeared beside me.
“Emily.” I gave her a gentle hug. “You look stunning.”
She blushed. “Thank you. This is my husband, Steve.”
I looked at the tall man beside her and shook his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Steve. Emily has spoken very highly of you.”
“She has done the same about you,” Steve answered. He was in a suit, but it looked awkward on him. I had a feeling he spent most of his time in casual clothes by the way he kept pulling at his tie.
Cody stepped forward to greet Steve and Emily. “Thanks for coming to the wedding.”
“Of course,” Emily answered. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” Cody genuinely smiled at her, and I was proud of him for being civil.
A few minutes later, he led me to the dancefloor. He linked our fingers and put his free hand on my waist. I was an atrocious dancer, but fortunately, the slow song was easy to dance to. Even if it wasn’t, nothing could bring me down today. I was too happy.
“I’ve thought more on it, and I want to take your last name,” he said. “Cody Vale has a nice ring to it.”
“Are you sure?” We had proposed hyphenating our names but hadn’t settled on anything yet.
“Yep.”
I kissed him as we swayed from side to side. After the dance, we walked over to another group of friends and mingled some more.
“I love you more than anything in this world,” Cody whispered in my ear, his hand at the small of my back.
“And I love you more than that.”
It was, without a doubt, the happiest day of my life.
Epilogue
Grounded
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”
-Aristotle
Cody
Brighter Shades of Light Page 29
