CHAPTER 10

Thank you so much for all the reviews. Glad people are continuing to read and still enjoying. I am loving the process especially as these two live in my head when I am not able to put them on paper. Later in this chapter Charles will be in bold and Molly in italics.

Bossman's POV

Charles could feel the butterflies in his stomach, his appetite had disappeared today and he felt nervous anticipation. Today he would get to see the future Mrs James and he hoped that she had forgiven him for not being able to share the whole truth behind his reason to go to Afghanistan with a security operation. Getting her to believe that he had wanted the excitement of further adventure in Afghanistan had been difficult but he must be a better actor than he thought.

He smiled as he sipped his coffee and wished it was a cup of Rossabya as he missed a good cup of coffee as it had been the only way 'to be a fully functioning soldier' on his last time in Afghanistan. After this trip the most important part of starting each day would be to wake next to Molly. Having her wrapped around him each night had been every dream during their time apart. Torturous separation but necessary to achieve the end goal and making sure that Bashira and Quasseem were safe.

Molly's POV

Molly took the offered coffee not that she was thirsty but it broke up the journey and brought Cyprus and Bossman closer. She was now managing to call him Charles at times but she still secretly preferred Sir or Boss. Sometimes she said it with a cheeky grin knowing that he would growl and either give her a sexy scowl or kiss her with such passion that she achieved what she wanted –result!

Recently she had felt a lot of anger when she thought about him and his decision to head back. He had been convincing that it was the need for further adventure because she knew he did not need the money. Ex service men were working for these security firms for a couple of years to make as much money as possible to pay off mortgages after leaving the forces. It was not something you could do for long as the risk was huge and never more so with the Allied Forces pulling out.

The thoughts across the miles were overlapping without them realising. Thinking back to the first times they started to really notice each other.

That first time she came out of the tent for PT with those shorts. He had looked at her and made some sarcastic comment about "not wearing her stilettos," but really he had been covering up for the thought that she looked hot even at 5:30 in the morning.

The moment he had been getting his blisters checked. He had seemed to look so intensely at her and did not seem to miss anything. She had turned round and had thought he may have been checking out 'her arse' but then thought no he would not look at her like that but had still felt very warm.

The time she had got safely in the helicopter after saving Smurf. He had been angry that she could have been a target. He thought she had more 'balls' than most guys he knew but she was trouble when she disobeyed orders.

The times he worked out with the free weight bars. He teased her when he stripped off his top and she could see his toned torso and found it difficult not to lick her lips. She had to remind herself to look away as she had just wanted to stare and thought that two section must have been blind not to notice.

The shorts with the West Ham top. That combination had been quietly driving him insane every time he saw them. Her legs had been tanned and toned; his thoughts had been not what an OC should be thinking about a soldier in his command. The first time he had nearly given himself away when he called her Dawsey. He had been enjoying the banter and had been flirting but he was on tour. He had been in trouble from that moment.

His smile when he said "piss off Dawsey" and she had teased him. She had thought that he was maybe flirting a little but had not been sure. When he smiled he made her forget where they were and who he was.

When he had walked into the tent knowing that she was heading home on leave. She had been in shorts and a little red vest top. He had wanted to be in a private room and no chance of being interrupted. Her need to try and solve the problems in Helmand. The loss of Rolex boy and the need to know that everything would be ok for Bashira. He had given himself away by writing Rossabaya on her arm. Maybe he should have just written "I love you." Asking her to come back to him and her wonderful reply "don't worry I will." He had held her hand at that moment and it had been as thrilling as his first kiss with Rebecca.

When he wrote Rossabaya on her arm and had asked her to come back to him. His look had made her melt and had been so endearing and genuine. She had been so tempted to take his face in her hands and press her lips to his. But the look he had given when she had got in the helicopter to go on R and R. He had look so lost and intense. He did not want her to go and she knew that if he had given one inclination that she get off and come back to him she would. Newport had given a moment when she had felt close thinking that he had stood where she was but during the whole time on R and R she had left her heart back in Afghanistan and pleaded that he would look after it.

The happiest moment for both of them had been Christmas Day. Being asked by the dreamiest man to get married had been the most special moment of her life so far. Charles had picked her up and swung her round and had thought she is mine. This cheeky, Cockney imp is all mine and this time I will make sure that it works. I could not bear to lose her as life got real when I met her.

Charles looked at his watch and realised he had been just thinking about Molly for the last few hours and it was now time to go. He grabbed the car keys from the table beside him and quickly opened the door to head to the airport. Thirty minutes and he would have her in his arms and he was never letting her out of them if he had his way.

"We are starting our decent to Akrotiri airport. Can you put your seats upright and put your trays away." Molly had to remind herself to breathe as it was getting closer. The anticipation of meeting again and would he know? Being held by those strong arms and the touch of those lips. Molly ran her finger tentatively around her lips in anticipation and then took a guilty look at Margaret but realised that no one knew. Soon … so soon.

The next chapter is going to be such a reunion. I hope everyone will keep reading. xx