Saturday - The Morning After
Charles lay propped up on his elbow watching Molly, while she slept. She was curled up facing him. She looked utterly adorable: her hair spilling out across her face; her long, dark lashes fanning her eyelids; her rosebud lips slightly parted as if asking to be kissed. He couldn't believe his luck. She was here with him, safe at last. And they had the rest of the weekend together. He reached out to brush the hair from her face and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
He glanced over his shoulder, registering the time on his alarm clock. 8.30am. His parents would both be up by now having breakfast in the kitchen. He couldn't wait for them to meet Molly, though he knew she was anxious. For some strange reason that he couldn't quite understand, she'd somehow got it into that beautiful head of hers that they wouldn't like her, that they'd think she wasn't good enough for him, their son. He'd laughed when she'd told him, much to her annoyance. But knowing his parents, he knew her thoughts couldn't be further from the truth.
He cast his mind back to the early summer. To the time he'd told his parents that he'd fallen head over heels in love with the medic who'd saved his life. He'd been home from hospital a few weeks when his mobile had rung late one evening. It was Molly. He'd been sat half watching TV with his parents, drumming his fingers on the arm of the sofa, his mobile by his side willing it to ring. He'd been trying to reach her all day, desperate to hear her voice and finalise the plans for their first date. When it had finally rung, he'd jumped up, grabbed the phone and limped as fast as he could out into the hallway. Not bad, for a man with two war wounds. His parents had watched him go, then smiled at each other knowingly.
He'd returned to the drawing room half an hour later, a big smile on his face, and told them that he'd fallen madly in love with a most amazing girl called Molly and would they mind if he bought her home the following week while they were on holiday in Lake Garda.
His parents had known of course. It was obvious. The clues were all there; in the letters he'd written whilst on tour where he'd mention her name in passing; when he'd talk about her at every opportunity now that he was home; from the look on his face when he was clearly thinking of her and in the amount of time he spent texting and talking to her on his phone. He'd changed; his mood now upbeat, his sense of humour firmly back, despite the rumbling aches and pains he still had in his stomach and leg.
Secretly, they were delighted. This girl had saved their younger son in every possible way. He'd embarked on his fourth tour hardened by the death of one of his men and completely disillusioned by his failed marriage. Neither of his parents had wanted him to volunteer. He'd been angry, bitter and as they saw it, not in the right frame of mind. They were more worried for him than they'd ever been before and they knew Sam would miss him dreadfully. He was growing up fast and each separation from his father took its toll. Yet they'd been unable to dissuade Charles from going. He'd been insistent; his time away would allow Rebecca to sort everything out he'd said.
Despite being horrific in many ways, his fourth tour had, however, resulted in something positive - his meeting a certain Private Molly Dawes. Since he'd been home from hospital, despite his injuries, he hadn't stopped smiling and they knew it was all down to her.
And now they couldn't wait to meet the girl who'd captured his heart ...
Molly looked so peaceful. He didn't want to wake her just yet. He gently pressed his lips to hers, before sliding carefully out of the bed. He padded across his bedroom to the ensuite and ran himself a shower.
He'd only been in the shower a few minutes, before the door opened. She slid the door shut behind her and stood naked before him. The water running down her face and body.
"Morning Molls," he smiled, letting out a slow sigh, taking in the beauty before him. He felt his groin tighten.
She didn't speak, she couldn't speak. She was so anxious about meeting his parents.
She was looking at the shower floor, watching the water run away. He tilted her head up so that he could see her face. "You ok Molls?" he asked. Her face gave the game away. "What if they don't like me Charles?" she whispered, her wide eyes searching his. He sort to reassure her, pulling her close. "Molly, there's nothing not to love," he said. They stayed together in the shower and he washed her long, silken locks, delighting in such a simple pleasure.
"Come on Molls, we'd better get dressed, Mum and Dad really want to meet you," Charles murmured eventually.
She raised her head to look at him. "Charles make love to me, please," she said quietly, her eyes pleading.
"Molly, you're only delaying the inevitable," he half-laughed suspecting her game, but he knew that he wouldn't refuse her. He could never refuse her, he would want her for always. She stood on tiptoes as he lowered his head to hers; their lips almost touching. She could feel his breath on her skin.
"What am I Molls? Your own version of Dutch courage?" he whispered against her mouth and she leaned forward biting on his bottom lip gently. He heard himself groan and he began to kiss her. Kisses soft and delicious at first. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he placed his hands on her hips pulling her close. His body hard and solid against hers. Their kisses deepened, becoming punishing. She felt her legs almost give way and she staggered backwards against the shower wall. He placed his hands under her thighs lifting her up and she wrapped her legs around him; his hard on digging in to her soft skin. They stumbled out of the shower, almost breathless and he carried her to the bed...
By the time they made it downstairs, it was 10 am. Charles held her hand in his and led her towards the drawing room. His parents were relaxing on the sofas reading the morning's papers.
Molly and Charles stood in the doorway. He had his arms wrapped protectively around her shoulders and she leaned back into him, a hand on his arm, feeling his warmth.
"Mum, Dad, this is Molly," he said, as he gently pushed her into the room. Penny and Robert James looked up from the papers and then set them aside. They stood up from the sofas; their faces wreathed in smiles.
His mum's immediate thoughts were how tiny and slender Molly looked. Had this pretty, young girl really taken on the Taliban, shot an insurgent and saved their son? She looked a little vulnerable, right now, in Charles' arms. Nerves - his mum correctly guessed. Charles released his hold on Molly and his mum stepped forward, closing the gap between them. She took Molly in her arms and hugged her.
When she finally released her, they were both smiling.
"Molly, it's wonderful to meet you at last, Charles has told us so much about you," Penny said.
"You too, Mrs James, thank you for allowing me to stay," Molly replied, glancing at Charles who was grinning broadly.
"Call me Penny, please. And this is Robert, Charles' father," she turned to the man behind her, an older, slightly shorter, version of Charles. Yet, still handsome, nevertheless.
He came forward and Molly extended out her hand, but he enveloped her in his arms too.
"Molly we're delighted to have you here," Robert assured her.
Charles looked on smiling at the exchange. He could see Molly visibly relax. They sat down on the sofas. Penny and Robert on one and Molly and Charles on another. The young couple holding hands, their fingers entwined.
"We've been wanting to meet you for months," Robert continued, "to thank you in person for saving Charles' life. Words can't express how grateful we are, for what you did for Charles the day he was shot. And for what you've been doing for him since," he finished. Charles would swear later that his dad winked.
Molly smiled as she answered, " Well I was just doing my job, though I've gotta say I did have a vested interest." Charles squeezed her hand, as they all laughed.
They sat on the sofas getting acquainted, laughing and joking for much of the time. Penny revelling in the obvious affection between her son and his girl and marvelling at how close they were. Robert understanding why his son had fallen so hard for Private Dawes. She had personality in abundance; she was funny, witty, endearing, caring, streetwise and smart. And it was clear that she was more than capable at putting Charles in his place and she did so, several times. Oh and she was beautiful to boot, quite simply the perfect package.
"So when did you know you were falling for Charles, Molly?" Penny enquired after a while, much to the horror of her son. Like most mothers, she wanted to know the ins and outs of their 'story'.
Molly glanced at Charles, her eyes full of love. "Brize Norton, Day 1, BEFORE he barked at me," she giggled, ribbing Charles yet again. She leaned in to kiss him lightly on the cheek, "something about the uniform I guess."
Later that night
Molly and Charles were snuggled together in his bed. He was laying a trail of tender, sweet kisses along her collar bone and she sighed contentedly beneath him.
He stopped suddenly, lifting his head to look at her and she moaned in protest. "I take it that what you told mum, about falling for me at Brize, wasn't true Molls?" He said huskily, his eyes searching hers.
"No, not exactly, though I've gotta admit you look pretty fit in khaki and combats - first impressions an' all that - but like I said you did kind of ruin it when you began to Wally Grout." She giggled at the bemused expression on his face.
"Molls, you'd be better off talking to me in Pashto than Cockney. After four tours I might just have an inkling of what you're on about."
"Oh come on Charles that one's easy - bleedin' obvious in fact - Wally Grout - shout!" She poked her tongue out at him and sniggered," and I thought YOU were the educated one Boss."
He grabbed her wrists and held them above her head, pinning her down to the bed. "You'll pay for that Dawesy," he breathed against her mouth, as his free hand began to tickle her relentlessly.
...
A/N thanks for the reviews again. Really struggled with this chapter but I've now given up trying to improve it. Hope it's ok.
