AN- Biggest apologies for the crazy amount of time it has taken to complete this chapter. Enjoy & please let us know what you think.
Molly sipped on an ice cold beer as she read back his letter. He had found a way to get one to her, as she had done him. To reassure her, also like she had done him. Now was it was just a case of waiting out. Again!
She had never seen a beach so beautiful or sea so blue so she vowed to make the most of every second they were in Cyprus for Decompression. Taking walks along the beach, sunbathing, and really doing exactly what she was meant to be doing… decompressing her mind after what could only be described as a strenuous few months.
She had no idea when she would see him again, or even hear from him. It was torture but she knew this time, when they finally reunited that it would be forever. He wouldn't slip away from her again.
"You ok Mol?" Her new friend Naomi interrupted her perfectly happy trail of thought.
"Just taking it all in... it's been a crazy few months, ain't it?"
Naomi took a swig of her beer. "That's the name of the game girl. You've done yourself proud. Not many who are still so green would've had this opportunity."
Molly smiled to herself, fully aware that her good work was not going unnoticed.
"That rest of them have saved up their beer tokens for tonight, there's a party in the beach bar if you fancy it?"
She wanted nothing more than Charles but she would have to make do with her newfound friends for just a little longer.
There were whispers from other personnel that the Afghan lot would be joining them soon, but she pushed those far from her mind with fear of getting her hopes up only to be left disappointed if he didn't show up.
"Alright, you're on! I'll freshen up and see you there."
She found herself making extra effort with her hair and make-up tonight. "Just in case." She whispered to herself as she applied lashing of mascara. Her eyes always were her best feature she felt.
Her heart raced as she pulled on her Sandals. She was nervous. So nervous it's like she could feel him there already. Wishful thinking maybe?
She slotted into the vacant seat next to Naomi, who had a drink waiting for her. "Cheers!" They clinked glasses. "Here's to the end of another tour. No one died and more shockingly, No one's shagged... well not yet anyway." Naomi said with a wink.
Molly felt heat rising in her cheeks at Naomi's words as the rowdy group cheered around her. Knowing full well what she had got up to in Afghanistan. She had fallen in love. Head over heels in love with Charles James.
She pulled out her phone, yearning for a missed call, a message, or an email. Anything that let her know he was thinking of her, but it didn't come.
She opened Facebook, again hoping to see his face and there it was. His handsome face staring back at her, tanned, and smiling. She opened the post to scroll through the rest of the photos, smiling to herself until she one in particular stopped her in her tracks.
His arm, the very same arm that she ached to have wrapped round her body, held on tightly to another woman. A woman she didn't recognise. Neither of them in uniform. Both holding drinks, socialising, having a great time. They gazed happily at each other. Their eyes completely fixed on one another. They both looked happy.
"That must be the Afghan lot?" Naomi asked, spying over her shoulder. "By the looks of it, they are in the other hotel bar. Not sure who he is, but I definitely wouldn't say no!"
Molly smiled politely but the rage building inside her was at boiling point. Who the fuck is she?
She put 2 and 2 together after looking at the time stamp on the photos. Only uploaded 34 minutes ago. Maybe Naomi was right. Maybe he was in the other bar.
"I've got a bit of a headache, might call it a night." She made her excuses before hot stepping it to the front desk like a bat out of hell. The clicking of her heels on the smooth marble floor letting all around know she meant business.
"Excuse me, where can I find the main bar?" Her voice shook.
The receptionist pointed her in the direction of the Sea View bar. Her heart was now pumping 10 to the dozen. She was ready to kill him, kiss him and drag him to bed all at once.
She stopped dead at the sight of him. Watching for a moment, fuelling ammunition for the explosion that was imminent.
The bitch's hand on his knee, his hand on her back as they entertained a full group of officers. The chemistry between them was electric. She was playing with fire by being here.
"Molly?" She had caught his eye; it hadn't taken long. Her sun kissed, bronzed legs shimmering under the flirty little dress she was wearing and her hair was tousled to perfection in effortless beach waves thanks to the salty sea water. She was breath taking.
He excused himself from the group and quickly closed the gap between them. She could tell by the way he was biting his lip that he liked what he saw. The look in his eye suggested that he now only had eyes for her.
"Who the fuck is she?" She shouted, much louder than she intended to but it had the desired effect on him. He looked over his shoulder, checking his fellow officers hadn't picked up on the commotion.
"Who the fuck is who? There are several females in attendance and for Christ's sake Molly, you can't do this here." He gentle moved them into the doorway, out of earshot. "I wanna know who the fuck she is? With her hands all over you and posting pictures of you on Facebook like she's your owner"
He cut her off "She is a colleague who I happen to respect and admire. We went to fucking Sandhurst together, we're friends."
She wasn't sure if she wanted to kiss him or slap him. He was breathtakingly beautiful as ever. Tanned with his hair just sneaking beyond regulation length and a couple of days' worth of stubble. He'd been here for a few days already.
"Fucking charming of you to let me know you were here. Could've let me know you were safe... been worried" she snapped, folding her arms defensively across her chest.
He smiled to himself at her petulant strop. Jealousy was something he himself was no stranger too.
"So not only are you cheating on me, but you're also fucking laughing at me as well?"
She turned her back, storming off in the direction of the friends she had left behind in the other bar. Two could play his game and she was damn sure she'd be better at it.
"You don't honestly believe that of me, do you?" He called after her only to be met with her middle finger. He decided against chasing her. He would let her calm down and realise she was being ridiculous. He'd cautiously bagged himself the room next to hers with the hopes of sneaking in some quality time together. He would see her in the morning.
"Nothing like a gobby squaddie to interrupt festivities." Lisa, the very cause of his grief piped up.
He gave a low chuckle, not wanting to draw any more attention to the situation but his mind was now elsewhere. Travelling up her tanned legs to be precise.
He smiled again at her jealousy. Knowing from his own green eyed monster that it must mean she really cared. He opened the Facebook app to look at the photos which had offended her so much only to be met with her own photos posted in retaliation.
He felt it. That pang of jealousy at the sight of someone else's hands on her. The way she was staring straight at him from the photo as if she was right in front of him. Boy did he feel it.
"I think I'll call it a night." Someone in his party announced and he agreed, making his excuses, and moving on autopilot in the direction of where he knew she'd be. She was playing up to him before he had even got there. She knew he would come. The photo was bait and he fallen for it hook, line and sinker. He watched her dance; she was dancing for him. The way she moved her hips against Monk's groin lit a fire in him. She licked her lips at the sight of him, knowing full well the effect she was having on him. His eyes were black with desire and jealousy. Now he knew how it felt.
She slipped off from the gathering unnoticed by all except him. She led the way for him, the anticipation of what was coming next almost too much to bare. She needed him now.
She entered her room closing the door behind her. Not sure how to make it happen now. He would come to her; she knew that but he couldn't risk getting caught. She opened the doors to her balcony and was pleasantly surprised to see him just next door sipping a cold beer and taking in the view. He was in no rush after all.
"Quite the display you put on." He said dryly. Two could play silly games. "Well, I needed to show you that you ain't the only one round here who can have 'em falling at your feet."
He gave a slight chuckle before his expression turned serious. "That was never my intention Molly. There is nothing between her and I. I think you'll find I'm not her usual type. I would never knowingly hurt you."
She believed him. With a less than graceful hop of the balcony she found herself in his arms. Their lips crashing together, making up for lost time. He satisfied the ache between her legs with the palm of his hand, pleased with himself that she was more than ready for him. With a flick of his head, he invited her inside, taking off her clothes and littering the floor with them as they've moved, their bodies in sync with each other. Their lips never parting for more than a second. The need for each other was intense.
No time for protection, not something he was ever willing to risk before but he needed her. Needed to satisfy her and for her to return the pleasure. He kissed and stroked her nipples, sending her wild.
The months of yearning, her dancing against another man and the way she looked tonight, it was too much to bare.
"Tell me you love me!" She panted, commanding his attention. "I fucking love you Molly!"
The way her body moved against his drove him wild. The naughty look in her, the way she kissed him. Everything was perfect. She was perfect.
"Harder" she demanded and he willingly obliged until neither could take it anymore. Fireworks. Months of yearning and it had been worth every single second. He pulled her body close to him, like a second skin, desperate to be as near as possible. To breath in her smell that he has missed so much.
How much longer could he live life separately from her? It was something to think about. Her career had only just begun though so it was too early to even go there. He would have to find a way to make this work because he was never letting Molly Dawes go ever again.