LOVE AND WAR – PART 3
SUMMARY: An outing to escape takes an unexpected turn.
WARNING: Alternate universe and sexual content.
1945, America
Empty.
The morning sunlight streamed through the bedroom curtain to warm the vacant space in our bed. James had been gone for hours last night and with no sign of returning home. The emotional drain and fatigue of the situation had forced me to sleep.
Alone and defeated.
The cool air made me shiver as I flicked the blanket away. The silk slip dress reached just above my knees with a white lace trim. It offered little to no protection from the elements, but the soft material has a soothing effect.
The floors board creaked on my way to freshen up in the bathroom. An hour of crying and hours more of uncertainty had turned me into the person in the mirror. The dark circles and puffiness around my eyes made me grimace.
The site is disgraceful and only proceeded on bringing back the heavy weight of sadness. It was a slow wander from the bathroom to start the kettle in the kitchen. The water continued to boil as I turned around to stare blankly ahead.
A lone brown bottle.
It sat on the coffee table in the middle of the living room. The peculiar detail prompted me to investigate before discovering it to be an empty beer bottle. A large lumping figure suddenly stirred on the couch causing me to gasp in bit of shock.
James.
An imaginative series of events flashed in my mind as he laid stomach down and unconscious. The man had managed to find his way to and from one of the local pubs. The wafting scent of bitter alcohol made my nose cringe in disgust.
Heading back into the kitchen, the glass bottle fell into the bin before making myself a cup tea and toast for breakfast. The rustling wasn't enough to rouse him from the couch and so it left me in a silent state of mixed emotions.
Anger.
The feeling was enough to propel me into getting dressed and ready to leave the house. A breath of fresh air would be the better decision compared to cooping ourselves up with one another. The front door handle strained in a locked position.
The house keys are nowhere to be seen and the last person to have them is laying on the couch. This is the kind of confrontation that I'm desperately trying to avoid. A deep and nervous breath swelled my chest before slowly inching my way toward him.
I gave a brief visual inspection before reaching forward to gently pat his back pockets. The lack of hard lumps or bumps made me move toward his jacket. The nearing touch triggered a sudden and firm snatch of my wrist.
"What are you doing?" he grumbled.
"I need the house keys."
James had let go of my wrist to sit up with a groan. "What for?"
"Does it matter?" I retorted with a sigh.
James wiped a hand over his rugged face before digging into his jacket pocket. Retrieving the keys, he handed them over without so much as a glance in my direction. I quickly swiped them before rushing to leave the house.
The mat-black pickup truck sat parked in our narrow driveway. There'd been some women who'd taken up driving while their men were at war. It would have been useful for me, if it weren't for the fact that James drove a rather old and cantankerous vehicle.
It wasn't a complete loss.
The walking kept me in good health and the travel always managed to ease my mind of any troubling thoughts. The click of my heels echoed against the sidewalk as I made my way toward the local weekend market.
It couldn't be missed.
A place where good things could be bought from good and wholesome people. During times of hardship, the market gave everyone the excuse they needed to leave their homes and mingle amongst other members of society.
The bustling hub instantly drew my attention. The tented stalls flowed with people as they perused an array of trinkets and the many things being offered. The market even has a fine selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables.
"Janet?"
The sound of my name made me turn to see a familiar face smiling as he approached from another vendor. The rising costs of the economy during wartimes had urged me to join a small law firm as a secretary. The very same place where we met one another.
"Lewis."
The young man stood just a little taller than myself with short blonde hair and forest green eyes that posed as a rather unique feature. Lewis always portrayed a bright and charming personality that seemed to fit well with his position as a lawyer within the firm.
"This is a pleasant surprise," he said with a brief look around. "Are you here together?"
"No," I said with a shake of my head. "James had some things to settle."
It might have been small lie, but it felt like the wrong this to do to someone who's done nothing but show me kindness during four of the toughest years of my life. The friendship we'd developed over that time had helped me cope with the stress of being alone and afraid.
"Would you have lunch with me?" he asked. "There's a nice place just around the corner."
The kind invitation came with a bout of hesitation. Times have changed now that the war is over and the men are home. The inappropriate behaviour of being out with another man might send the wrong messages.
"They have terrific food and drink."
"Well," I started in an attempt to politely decline.
"Come now," he interrupted. "I insist you come along."
My head tilted with a defeated sigh. "Okay."
Lewis smiled before stepping to my side with a gesture. "Right this way."
The distance was short as we made our way out of the market and down a few blocks. The main strip of road was fairly quiet for this time of day. A small bell chimed as Lewis stopped to open the door of a boutique cafe.
"Where would you like to sit?" he asked.
"The patio would be lovely."
A waiter came to seat us at one of the metal tables before taking our order. The outside setting allowed a pleasant view of the park on the other side of the road, and the heating lamps were enough to ward off the cool breeze.
The conversation we shared with our meals soon brought me out of my sombre mood. An unexpected comment made me reach up to try and muffle my soft laughter. Lewis always has a way of bringing me joy no matter what kind of occasion.
"Sounds like fun."
The rough voice made me shudder before turning to look up at those glowering steel grey eyes. James loomed over as he lit a cigarette from beside our table. Lewis cleared his throat before standing up from his seat.
"You must be James," he said while holding out his hand.
Lewis lowered his arm as James didn't make any move to return the gesture. The air turned so thick with tension that it made me fearful of what might happen between them. The metal chair beneath me squeaked as I stood up to explain the situation.
"This is Lewis," I said with a gesture. "We work together at the firm."
James took a drag of his cigarette. "A lawyer?"
Lewis nodded. "That's right."
The air hitched in my lungs as James looked at me with anger and annoyance. The terrible stare made me cower with guilt. It should have been an innocent lunch with a friend, but the situation ended up sending mixed messages.
"Enjoy your lunch."
James gave me one last look before walking away and down the sidewalk. The unexpected turn of events stunned me into silence, while Lewis blew a sigh of relief as he sat back down. The shock of it all made me turn to him with an apologetic look.
"Where are you going?" he asked with surprise. Digging into my purse, I sat down enough money to pay for the lunch.
"I'm sorry, but I have to leave."
This is the second time in one day that I've found myself running away from an intense situation. It was a rush to quickly catch up without drawing too much attention. James was just up ahead when he turned into a single laned back road.
Following down the road and around another corner, the narrow alley way offered little lighting due to the tall brick buildings on either side. James stood by the black pickup truck with the driver's side door wide open.
The sound of my heels echoed loudly, but he didn't make any attempt to acknowledge my steady approach. A trail of smoke drifted from his mouth, while my heart raced and my mind whirled to come up with the right words to say.
"What do you want?" he asked, making me stop a few steps away.
"It's not what you think."
"It never is," he muttered while closing the car door. "Is that what you were doing?"
"What?"
James flicked the cigarette before turning to me with a scowl. "Did you fuck him while I was gone?"
A low ringing sounded in my ears as those cruel words sank in to my mind. It seemed entirely surreal that he would ever say or accuse of me of something so terrible. A swell of rage blinded me into a sudden attack.
Storming forward, my hands reached out hit and slap him wherever they could and as hard as they were able. The anger inside of me is too fierce to allow any tears to fall. James stood motionless as my body wailed against his own.
"How dare you!" I bellowed as he tried to take hold of my wrists. "How could you say that to me?!"
"Stop," he ordered.
The sharp slap to his face cracked through the alleyway. James paused before pushing me up against the side of the truck. The firm grip around my wrists tightened enough to make me struggle and squirm beneath his hold.
"Let go of me," I hissed.
"Will you stop?"
"Yes!"
James eased his grip enough for me to reach up and slap him again. The muscles in his jaw clenched as his fist collided with the side of the truck. The violent act was enough for me to snap out of my own destructive state.
The moment turned tense as we glared at each other. Our bodies stood so flush that the radiating heat caused a bead of sweat to roll down my spine. There weren't any words to be spoken, but we both resonated the same emotion.
Regret.
James leant forward to press his warm lips against my own. The light scratch of stubble and roaming hands made me flush with pleasure. This is nothing more than an impulsive act, driven purely by frustration and desire.
A pair of firm hands pushed upward to bunch the skirt of my dress around my thighs. The eager squeeze of my tender flesh travelled from my legs to up around my backside. A shiver ran down my spine as his touch turned frantic and demanding.
The faint echo of passing cars and pedestrians from the main road made me tremble with the thought of being caught by some wandering stranger. The taunt should have been enough to make me pull away, but his touch kept me still and satisfied.
Weak with rapture.
A hand slipped down the front of my underwear to brush against my warmth. The tantalising strokes made my thighs part before he lifted my right knee up around his waist. A pair of fingers delved inside my tight heat, while his tongue slipped into my mouth.
Warm, wet and sweet.
A string of moans slipped from my lips as every thrust made my stomach coil with pressure. The pooling heat between my thighs made me tingle and squirm. A wet slick squelched and dripped from my aching core as he coaxed me along.
A sudden weightlessness made my muscles tense as James reached down to pick me up from the ground. The hard metal of the truck pressed against my back for support, while my legs wrapped around his waist for leverage.
An intense thrill coursed through my veins as my hands rushed to pull up my skirt. It didn't take long for James to unbuckles his trousers as the tip of his swollen cock nudged at my entrance. A deep groan rumbled from his throat as he buried himself inside of me.
The burning stretch of my walls forced a loud moan before a hand covered my mouth with a hush. The pleasure and pain dazed my mind enough to let me bite down on the flesh of his palm. James pulled away with a wince before clutching the hair at the base of my neck.
The hard thrusts that followed made me gasp and pant as it knocked the air from my lungs. The burning sensation made way for waves of pleasure as the deep strokes slammed against my uterus. A sheen of sweat perspired over my skin despite the cool temperature.
The rising peak in my lower belly made my toes curl, while my fingers clutched the back of his jacket in a white knuckled grip. The sound of my pitiful whines and his guttural grunts was enough to drown the background noise and my sense of public awareness.
"Faster," I breathed.
A firm jolt of his arms shifted my position before he spurred into action. The harsh pound of his hips made my insides twist and tighten, while my breasts bounce beneath my bodice. A flutter of goosebumps trailed down my neck in a series of kisses.
A blurred image at my side made me look over to see our reflection in the side view mirror of the truck. A hot flush turned my cheeks pink as he fucked me against the door. The sinful display was enough to push me into an intense orgasm.
Euphoria.
The strong cramp of pleasure made my thighs tremble and my spine arch. A moan choked its way from my lungs before allowing a few shallow breaths. James stilled inside of me for just a moment, be he hadn't finished.
The heightened rush of gratification soon subsided. A gentle grind of his hips made me whimper at the feeling of his rock-hard cock still buried inside of me. My head turned with a purse of my lips as he leant in for another kiss.
Pushing myself up, the heightened leverage was enough to slip him out of me still warm and wet. James gave me a look of confusion as my body squirmed with a shove of his chest. The struggle was enough for him to set me down on my shaky feet.
The irritation is clear in the tone of his voice, "Where are you going?"
James tensed his jaw while tucking himself back into his pants. Flattening down my crumpled skirt, I reached down to pick my purse up from the pavement. A sense of power swirled alongside my own satisfaction of simply walking away.
"Home."