Happy Memorial Day to our nation's heroes. My hubs is one of them; I'm a proud USMC Wifey. If you see a Vet, know one or if you are one, make sure that you thank them, or at the very least thank their families who often sacrifice just as much as the service person.
A/N: Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" was basically written with this chapter in mind. Pretty amazing considering they, nor I, ever knew I'd be writing this story years later. ;) LOL.
^^TotS^^
EPOV
Three days have passed, and they've been chock full of incessant ribbing because of my whacked-out, inebriated attempted-engagement, or "Proposalgate" as it came to be known the following morning. We took it easy Sunday and just enjoyed a relaxing morning at the resort before grabbing lunch out in town. Afterwards, Riley and I hung at a sports bar watching baseball while the girls went shopping. The proposal jokes from them were nonstop. They flew home on Sunday night, though they still don't miss a chance to call or text me with another zinger. Yesterday afternoon Emmett called me laughing, saying I'd better not get Maui'd without him standing next to me. I pray he's kept it under wraps. My mother and sister will stroke out if they hear this stuff second-hand.
I apologized profusely, but I still feel like an ass for saying those things to Bella…not because the concept is so entirely off-the-wall, but because Bella deserves so much better than a slurred, drunken, cliché of a marriage proposal. In true Bella-fashion though, she only kissed me with a silly shake of her head and pulled me in for a hug, accepting my apology every time I brought it up.
I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge that Bella was clearly my wife in recent dreams and nightmares; and yes, there have been a couple more. I've seen her in all different stages of my life, our life. I've seen images of her walking toward me in a white gown, then swollen with my child, greeting me at the door with babies on her hips and finally, weeping, holding a folded American flag for the second time in her life.
They say a drunken man's words are the sober man's thoughts. In the light of day, no, I haven't given much air time to the concept of marrying Bella; I only made her my girlfriend a week ago for Christ's sake. But if I've been dreaming about Bella at a wedding, pregnant and more, then I suppose my subconscious is trying to convince the rest of me. So being three sheets to the wind with loose lips was the fodder that was and is Proposalgate.
After three days of just taking it on the chin like the object of a decent roast, last night, I finally fought back. Bella and I ended up rolling around on the floor in a tickling challenge, turned wrestling match, turned hot-as-hell fuckfest. We were so out of control it's a bloody miracle that one of us didn't truly wind up injured. I only got bumped on the head once, but Bella's head came way too close to the legs of the dining room chairs more than a couple of times.
^^ TotS^^
I must've hit my head on the coffee table harder than I thought, because I'm still dreaming…I've got to be. For these sensations though? Oh yeah, a knot on the head was definitely worth it. Unnngh, don't stop.
This dream— Jesus. My cock is enveloped by hot, slick skin. Goddamn, my girl feels so good, so real. I can't remember the last time I had a wet dream, but holy shit if I don't wake up and, in turn, wake Bella up to help me take care of this matter; my stomach and the sheets are about to be a sticky, sloppy mess.
"Mmmmmm."
The sounds and smells and touches I'm experiencing are starting to freak me out; they seem so very real. I force myself to crack one eye open, the early morning sunshine helping to wake me as it streams through the vertical blinds across the floor.
I move my hand toward Bella's side of the bed to seek her out, but only find a warm, empty pillow. I'm now definitely awake, but still feeling my orgasm building when I realize that my absent-from-her-pillow girlfriend is actually under the sheet at the foot of the bed and lazily running her tongue up and down my shaft.
Fuckin' A. Not a dream at all. Now, that's the way to wake up.
"Good…morning," I manage to croak while pulling the sheet back. Her tongue swirls around the tip before she swallows my aching dick further into her mouth. Christ.
"Mmhmmmm." She emphasizes by nodding as best she can with a mouth full of cock. Her eyes are focused on mine while her fingernails lightly scratch up my thigh. I allow my head to fall back and move my hands to her face. My fingers thread through her thick hair, and I can't stop myself from thrusting my hips up, wanting to go deeper. The suction she's creating is hurtling me toward the edge, and I decide I don't want to come this way right now.
"Baby," I whisper, and she looks up, her eyebrows questioning me. "I need you."
She tightens her lips as she pulls up one last time and smiles, rising up on her knees.
"You have me."
I reach my hands out for hers, and we grasp mid-air, her sensational bare body on full display for me to enjoy. She straddles my hips, lines us up and sinks down with a shudder.
Bella rises and falls on my shaft, her eyes never leaving mine as we continue to hold hands. It's intense and so fucking sexy. Just as that thought enters my mind, a hint of a smile finds her lips.
"Happy birthday to you," she starts singing with a throaty whisper, still rolling her hips. "Happy birthday to you….happy birth—day," she squeaks out as I drive up hard, "…dear Edwarrrd. Happy birthday to youuu."
When she finishes her tune, I sit up and wrap my arms around her, snaking my right hand up under her hair to the back of her neck. She tilts her head as my lips seek out her racing pulse, thrumming under her delicate skin, just begging for me to suck and nibble.
"Ahhhh," she's moaning while I continue to grind my cock into her soaked core. Quickly, I twist us and throw her down on her back and continue to plunge into her while my mouth claims hers. We kiss and kiss and kiss until I feel her tensing around me, mewling as she sucks on my tongue, her eyes pinched shut.
"Yessss, Bella," I rise up on my forearms and look down to where we're joined. As she comes down from her high, I slow myself to long, deep thrusts, and I bend forward licking and kissing her collar bone. Bella continues to clench around me, and I can't hold off any longer, emptying myself inside her in three— make that four— erratic, hot streams.
"Happy birthday, Cap'n," my girl whispers breathlessly in my ear and hums against my temple.
"Thank you, baby," I mumble through a kiss on her swollen lips. "I can honestly say," …kiss…"that I've never had a birthday,"…kiss…"start out like this"…kiss.
When I let her up for air, she continues with a contented sigh, "So, how do you want to spend this twentieth of June, which also happens to be the thirty-fourth anniversary of your blessed arrival into this world?"
"Just like this. I don't need anything. I've got you…nothing else matters."
She giggles. "I think you sucked in too much salt water while we were snorkeling yesterday. We've been on Maui for over a week and our fridge and pantry are just about out of everything nutritious. I'm pretty sure all we have left are the ingredients for fluffernutters and a couple bottles of wine."
"Sounds like a meal to me!" I smile, brightly. "But seriously, let's just lounge and relax today. Then tonight we can get ready for our road trip tomorrow. And pack a bag…'cause we're sneaking away for a few days before we have to leave the island next week."
"A vacation from our vacation, again?" She lifts her head from the pillow and kisses me softly. "You're too good to me and spending way too much. You're gonna have to drag me away from this island kicking and screaming. How will real life ever compare to what we've been able to see and do in the last four weeks?"
I slide off her warm body and prop my head up with my hand. "It'll be the start of a new kind of adventure, a new chapter for us." I run my palm across her cheek cupping it. "I can't wait."
^^TotS^^
Bella and I do plenty of research preparing for our road trip. On paper, the driving time from our resort to the town of Hana is only two and a half hours. The "Road to Hana" though, as the excursion is known, is meant to take all day, if not a couple of days, because of all the places available to explore and experience along the way.
Many of the websites we check out agree that driving the scenic route is best done in a convertible or jeep. We laugh, wishing we could've brought the Mustang along with us to Maui, but instead we decide that it'll be fun to go with a jeep rental.
What I am not prepared for is the obnoxiously bright car we're given. It's hideous.
"Crush? What the hell kind of a name is that for a color?" I grumble as we load up our belongings.
"If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say maybe it's titled after Orange Crush, you know, the soda."
It's like a light bulb going off in my head and I can't help but scoop Bella up in my arms and twirl her around the parking lot as she squeals in delight. "YOU are one smart cookie." I pucker my lips, and she kisses me through a giggle. "Beauty, brains and a heart of gold…how'd I get so goddamn lucky?"
"Right place, right time, I guess! Just think; if I hadn't clobbered you with my backpack, we'd be off having our own adventures on these islands and never even know what we were missing in each other."
I lower her until her feet find the ground, and she fists my shirt. "Makes me almost sad to think we could've missed out on this opportunity to be together."
I shake my head. "I don't even want to think about it, Clementine. Just the notion that I might've lost the chance to spend this time with you makes my stomach sick."
"Thought's forgotten then," she whispers and kisses me again.
Only ten minutes into our journey after leaving Paia Town, Bella's made herself completely comfortable. The top is off the jeep, and her feet are propped up on the dash. We've got the satellite radio tuned in, and Bella's currently singing into her water bottle like she's the next American Idol.
Every once in a while, I notice her move her hand up, down and around her head and shoulders; it's like she's swatting a fly from her face. But we're whipping down the road pretty quickly, and there aren't any bugs bothering me at all.
The next time she does it, I have to ask. "Babe…what are you doing?"
She shrugs and looks at me with a sad smile. "Making the Sign of the Cross."
Ooooookay. "May I ask why?"
"Roadkill. I can't help it. There seems to be a multitude of dead mongooses, and they had little souls, so I just give them a small final blessing for their journey to mongoose heaven."
I smile hearing her explanation, basically because nothing surprises me about her anymore. Her heart, her mind, her actions…my inner voice derives great pleasure out of reminding me that I'm done for.
"Please don't think I'm a wacko."
I turn to her, shaking my head. "Not possible."
Bella insists that we stop at a fresh fruit stand along the way where we buy a pineapple, some papayas, mangos and a passion fruit. I insist to Bella that we're in no need of passion fruit because we have enough passion between the two of us, and all she does in response is roll her eyes and slug me in the chest. Cheesiest line of the day definitely goes to me.
We decide to skip the first few notable stops along the way and head straight for the Garden of Eden Arboretum. For an hour we wander around leisurely enjoying the spectacular weather and each other. We discover a dense bamboo forest, a banana patch, a tour guide points out a one hundred year-old mango tree and the grand finale occurs when I show Bella the Keopuka Rock overlook.
"Look at you, making sure I get my images-from-Jurassic Park fix," she says with a smile and nudge of my hips.
I wink back and pull her close. "Told you I'd give you the full dino tour, baby."
Of course we end up stopping at the Halfway to Hana stand because Bella will never, ever turn down a baked good, and the reputation for this place's banana bread precedes them. No free samples this time around, but we buy a loaf anyway, and Bella gets a cup of rainbow shaved ice to go. She feeds me scoops of the sweet treat along the way and makes fun of my purple tongue when we're all finished.
We stop at two places that overlook waterfalls, but it only aggravates me because they're inaccessible from where we've parked.
"What I wouldn't do to get you down there and swim with you under those falls," I murmur, dipping down to kiss her on the soft skin where her neck meets her shoulder.
"You only want me down there so we can swim together?"
I smirk at her, the devil.
"I can think of several other things we could be doing while hiding behind those falls," she purrs, running her fingers up my neck and into my hairline.
"And now you understand my frustration."
She starts to pull me toward the car. "So maybe it can't happen today…how about if we just say…someday?"
"Someday is good. I look forward to that day."
Nodding, she smiles. "Me too, Cap'n."
After a six-hour journey because of all of our side excursions, snack breaks and photo ops, we arrive at the Travaasa Resort in Hana Town at sixteen hundred.
Little did I know I hit the jackpot by booking a sea ranch cottage. What looks like a rustic, wooden ranch with a green tin roof is incredibly deceiving. Inside we find vaulted ceilings with exposed wooden beams, a kitchenette next to an open living area with a king-size bed behind it. The sitting area leads out to an expansive lanai, which gives us a perfect ocean view with an in-ground pool just outside our door. Not to mention the step-down whirlpool tub in the bathroom and the hot tub on the lanai.
Like I said, jackpot.
^^TotS^^
Friday morning we wake up refreshed and eager to start our day. Bella is giddy about the facial she booked along with the head and scalp massage scheduled directly after. I, on the other hand, am forgoing relaxation and instead I'm ready to spend some time on the ocean in the class for hoe he'e nalu, also known as stand-up paddle boarding.
I've paddle boarded a couple times in the past, so I'm looking forward to another chance to get out on the water this morning.
Bella comes out of the bathroom with her hair pulled up in a chaotic ponytail, she's got her glasses on, no make-up at all, and she's wearing denim shorts and my threadbare USMC t-shirt. In short, she's nothing but simply perfect. I'll take her in a gown, I'll definitely take her naked, but even in the most casual of clothes, to me, she's stunning in every way. And I fall a little more.
"Please don't go hurting yourself out there. I have big plans for you tonight, sir," she says, leaning down to kiss me as I'm finishing my crunches. Vacation or not, I've done my very best to try to stay on top of my workouts. I'll be hurting once I'm back to work if I don't.
"And don't let them go messing with your face too much. I've grown pretty attached to the one you have right now." My ludicrous reply makes her giggle as I stand up and walk her to the door.
"Deal." She gives me a final kiss and ass grope before turning and walking down the path to the spa.
I enjoy my time on the water with the half dozen other people joining me. The weather is cooperative, a little overcast but still very warm. The ocean temperature is perfectly cool and refreshing. My balance on the board is decent, and I catch a couple of good waves that roll my way.
When I return to the cottage, I hear the shower running and realize that Bella must have beaten me back after her spa appointments. My skin feels sticky and salty, and I'm pretty sure I may have half a pound of sand in my shorts, so I decide to join her.
^^TotS^^
BPOV
"Feeling refreshed and relaxed?" I hear his sexy timbre before I see him, but that's because I have a face full of suds, and I choose not to burn my eyes out.
"Very. Just scrubbing the oils out of my hair right now. How was your session?" My hair squeaks as I run my fingers down, ensuring all of the slick conditioner is thoroughly coating the strands.
"It was great. Met some friendly people who said they'd look for us at dinner later up at the main house."
The sliding glass door opens and shuts, and then I feel Edward's fingers squeeze my waist.
"Hey."
Chills run through me as his lips come in contact with my shoulder. "Hey yourself." I wipe the water from my eyes and turn in his arms clasping my fingers behind his neck.
We spin so that he's now directly under the spray, and the salt water starts running down his hard body.
"Need some help here?" I offer, turning to grab the loofah sponge from the shelf behind me, which I then douse in body wash.
In the time it took for said dousing, Edward has already scrubbed his head with shampoo and is finishing his rinse. Typical Marine Corps shower, in and out in two minutes flat. In our case though, I think he just wanted to get clean as quickly as possible so we could get dirty again together.
I start a frothy lather and move my hands slowly over his shoulders, down his firm biceps to his hands and long fingers, then back up from the V of his hips to his rib cage. My eyes have followed the trail of my hands and once my sudsy fingers reach his dog tags and chest hair, my gaze locks on his. He takes that opportunity to cup my face in his hands and kiss me deeply. Our tongues twist and twirl around the other, and the loofah drops from my grip.
Our wet bodies are pressed together as we massage each other with gentle caresses and lingering touches. Moments after pulling away from our heated kiss, Edward walks me backward to the rear wall of the shower and drops to his knees. Without warning, he grabs my left leg, throws it over his shoulder and proceeds to lap at, tease and torture my pussy until my muscles have frozen, I'm clenching, pulsating and screaming for heavenly mercy. He grants me none…and I see stars until I float back down from my high and back into my gorgeous boyfriend's welcoming arms.
^^TotS^^
"He's amazing, Mom. We're having the most incredible time."
"Aww, honey, I'm really happy for you. You deserve this. I remember him being so gentle and kind-hearted after Mike died. If he's even a fraction of that wonderful to you right now, I know you must be over the moon."
"I am. He's just so sweet and sexy and thoughtful…I'm just terrified of what's going to happen once we have to s—say goodbye." My voice stutters as my emotions rise to the surface.
My mom sighs audibly. "Well, you'll just do the best you can, Bella. If you two are meant to be, you're going to survive whatever the future has in store."
I nod, though she can't see me. "That's what I keep telling my head…I just need my heart to believe it one hundred percent of the time as well."
"You sound like you're keeping your eye on the door, Bella. That's not like you. What happened to throwing caution to the wind?"
"Trust me; caution is definitely blowing around in the wind right now, Mom. I just…I'm doing the best I can based on everything I know right now. As I spend more time with him, hopefully my nerves will settle."
She's silent for a beat before coming back on line. "Alright honey, here's what I have to say to that. You can't expect to get it all if you don't give it all. Nobody is a mind reader. You have to be honest and up front in every way if you hope to get that same treatment in return."
I consider her words, and I know she's right.
"Thanks, Momma. Well, I need to run. We're on our way out to dinner."
"Okay, love. I'll tell Daddy you called. Be safe and have fun…and be open to anything, Isabella."
"I will, love you."
I end my call and grab my purse from the bed. As I walk out to the living room, I see that Edward is Face Timing with Bailyn.
"But where IS she?"
"I think she's talking on the phone, Bay."
"To the Beast?" Bailyn questions, whispering in awe.
Edward laughs out loud. "No, not the Beast. I think she's talking to her Mommy and Daddy."
I walk up to the overstuffed chair he's sitting in and lean over his shoulder, coming into view on his phone.
"BELLE!"
"Hi, Bailyn!" I wave with a grin.
"Uncle Edward said you were busy."
"I was on the phone with my Mom, but now I want to talk to you! How's summer camp?"
"It's good. I'm not a tadpole anymore, I'm a guppy!"
I twist my head toward Edward looking for some clarification, and we hear Lauren chime in from the background. "She means swimming! She qualified for the more advanced class."
"Oh wow, Bailyn, that's terrific! You must be such a great swimmer!"
"Yeah! And I have a green bathing suit with yellow flowers and ruffles!"
I smile at the exponentially adorable girl before me. "That swimsuit sounds beautiful. I wish I had one with ruffles."
"I wish I had one with ruffles, too!" Edward adds, causing Bailyn and me to erupt in laughter.
"Uncle Edward, boys don't have ruffles on their suits!"
"They don't? Well, that's not fair. I'm going to ask Mom-Mom to sew some ruffles onto my suit when I come home."
We all laugh again before Bailyn picks up the conversation.
"When are you coming home?"
"I'll be back in August. About five more weeks."
Makes sense. I know that prior to PCSing, they give plenty of leave to get your local affairs in order. That's essentially what the email from DODEA just instructed, too. In North Carolina, I wasn't due back until the twenty-sixth of August, but now I have to report to Osan no later than August 15th. I have to find housing, set up utilities, get a car, etc. I'm shaken from my thoughts about work calendars and everything this move entails when I hear Bailyn shouting goodbye.
"Oh, bye Bailyn! I'll talk to you again soon!"
She waves with a sweet smile. "Okay, bye!"
I kiss Edward on the cheek after he ends their call. "Ready for dinner?"
^^TotS^^
"Mmmmm, this is incredibly peaceful."
"Definitely," Edward replies gathering me into his arms and sitting me sideways on his lap surrounded by the rumbling bubbles of the hot tub.
He's reclined on the built-in seat, and I'm leaning back with my head on his shoulder, looking out on the beach. My right hand is rubbing lazy circles on his knee and our left hands are intertwined. He's threading his fingers through mine, tickling them across my palm, then dipping them below the surface and scooping up the white, foamy bubbles. It's playful, yet incredibly intimate at the same time.
It's another perfect Hawaii night. The inky night sky is peppered with stars, and the temperature has dipped slightly, so the hot water feels perfect. We didn't bother with bathing suits for obvious reasons. We happen to have the end unit facing the ocean, our patio lights are off, and it's after midnight. We have the stereo system playing loudly enough to hear it over the jets.
I'm feeling a bit melancholy knowing we're down to our final three days on Maui. Checkout from our Hana escape is tomorrow; then we'll have a day and a half back at the resort in Kaanapali, then back to Oahu on Tuesday.
"I was thinking—"
"I thought I smelled something burning," I tease as he bites my shoulder and pinches my side. I couldn't help it; sometimes he just lobs them over the net.
"As I was saying," he starts again, and I twist to kiss him on his scruffy neck, "have you heard back from DODEA about when you have to check in for your new job?"
I nod. "Yes, I meant to tell you that earlier. They sent another email saying I have to be in South Korea no later than the fifteenth of August."
"I figured something like that. My monitor got back to me when you were still getting dressed. TMO will pack me up on the first, and I need to report to my new command by thirty August. Max will have to be quarantined in preparation for the move."
"Max?"
"Oh, that's right…you never got a chance to meet my dog. Nalani and Kalia took care of him while I was deployed; he's there with them now, too. The day we stopped to get ready for the zoo, he was at the groomer. He's a four-year-old chocolate lab, super-friendly. He's seventy pounds but he acts like a lap dog. He's hilarious."
"Aww, I love doggies. I can't wait to meet him! You sure he's gonna be cool with me moving in when we get back to Oahu?"
"Psshhhh, hell yeah. He'll be thrilled with the daily company."
I smile and settle back into the crook of his neck. "So, that's what you were thinking about?"
Edward clears his throat. "Actually, no." I feel his chest rise and fall. I have a feeling this next one might be a biggie. "About our travel dates…I was wondering…"
I turn in his lap, straddling his legs so that we're face to face. He pushes the wet ends of my hair behind my shoulders.
"Tell me," I interrupt, softly, trying to ease his nerves.
"What do you think about coming back to California with me? I mean before you have to get home to North Carolina to pack up. Even if it's just for a day or two…meet the other ladies in my life," he offers with his crooked grin. "They're chomping at the bit to get to know you in person, and nothing would make me happier than having all the girls I care about most in the same room."
My heart races at the thought of being able to hug that little girl. She's so precious, and his mom and sister have been nothing but lovely every time we've spoken. Meeting the family, another monumental leap for him. How can I possibly say no?
"Big step," I say quietly, rather than squealing at the prospect.
He nods, almost solemnly. "Yeah."
I think I'm scaring him, which isn't fair.
My smile takes over, and I lean in to kiss him. "I'd love to meet your family, Edward. The fact that you've even asked makes me giddy."
Relief consumes him. His shoulders lose their tension, his face relaxes with an instant smile, and he tightens his hold around my waist. "Really? You'll come?"
I nod animatedly as he pulls me close for a hug. His warm, wet skin against mine is so soothing. After a lengthy embrace I pull away once more to find his eyes.
"C'mere," he says, kissing me tenderly as his scruff tickles my face. "I can't wait to bring you home to California."
We sit quietly, lost in our own thoughts, but wrapped in each other's arms for a while longer.
I have wonderful memories growing up with my loving parents. I made and kept great friends over the years. Even Alice means a lot to me, though I currently want to pummel her. It doesn't change the fact that she'll always be one of my friends. Jasper is and always has been a sweetheart, and though he's kept quiet for the last month, I don't hold his wife's wacko comments against him. He's always been the calm one when storms rage; always a good balance for Alice's steam-rolling ways. Mike was the same way; he tempered her brashness with his cool head. I hope Mike is proud of me. I hope he knows that I'll always love him and treasure the sweet times we shared for the handful of years we had together.
And then there's Edward. After a month of being with him twenty-four hours a day; it's hard to imagine my life without him. I'm so thankful that we have the next five weeks together. Facing a year apart seems virtually impossible at this point. I pray the next few weeks will bring us clarity and give me the insight I'm hoping for.
Could he really be the one?
Three years ago we met under the worst of circumstances and my life was forever altered. Could it be that we were fated to meet again? And this time around, forever changing the two of us and our futures for a future together?
Only time will tell, just like my mom said.
"You're awfully quiet." His raspy voice breaks through the silence. "Whatcha thinking about?"
Just as I'm about to answer, Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" filters through the stereo system. How freakishly appropriate in this moment.
I swallow and boldly go for the honest approach. "Us…thinking about us. What we've done, what we've seen…everything."
"Me too."
"Do you think real life can possibly live up to the expectations that our vacation has surpassed by light years?" I question, fearing the answer.
He looks at me thoughtfully before answering. "I think— no, I know— that I'm excited about the plans we've made. We have my promotion ceremony and wet down to look forward to." He smoothes his hands down my sides and rests them on my thighs, his fingers dancing gently. "There's always a big Fourth of July bash on base, too. Even though work will keep me pretty busy during the day, we have our nights and weekends together. We can do more exploration on Oahu during those free times. Then we'll head to California." He interrupts his speech with a quick kiss. "So yeah, I think we have every reason to believe that it'll be great."
"I get scared, Edward." More honesty tumbles from my mouth.
He nods. "I know you do. I'm scared, too." He pulls me close, capturing my upper lip between his. He leans his forehead on mine when our kiss ends. "But if we're together, we'll get through it…better than we would on our own, right?"
I bite my lip feeling my emotions bubble to the surface. "Thank you."
His emerald eyes narrow in question. "For what?"
"For giving me the best time of my life," I whisper, choked up.
He moves his hand to my face, and I lean my cheek into his palm as a tear escapes my eye.
"Those three words are said too much, they're not enough.
If I lay here, if I just lay here...
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"
Edward rubs his thumb across my lips and then over to my cheek to swipe away the tear. His other arm pulls me tightly into his chest, and we find each other in a sensual kiss.
I rock my body over his as his mouth trails down my heated neck. My fingers grip his muscular arms, and I massage and sigh, absorbing not only the pleasure of it all, but the honesty in his comforting embrace. It doesn't take long until our kisses become more passionate, and I feel his erection standing tall between our stomachs.
I lift up on my knees as Edward grips himself in one hand and slides his fingers along my slickened skin. He finds my clit, rubs and teases it a bit causing me to whimper. When we both can't wait any longer, he presses the head against my opening, and I sink down with a sigh.
I move slowly, all the way up until he's practically falling out of me and then back down again. We kiss— we don't stop kissing. His strong hands never leave my back, and only occasionally dip down to grip my ass. Our tongues slide in and out of each other's mouths amid mutual moans and grunts of enormous satisfaction.
When I feel my belly tightening, I speed up a bit. Edward finds my hands and holds them in his, dragging them across his chest until they're resting over his heart. His symbolic action causes my breath to stutter and a cry of happiness mixed with passion erupts from within.
And in that moment, I know. It's no longer a question. Though we haven't said the words yet, I absolutely know without a doubt that we're making love.
Military Terms: (Several repeats from prior chapters. I think in the final chapter, I'm going to send out a test to all my readers. The only way you get to read the epilogue is if you achieve an 80% or above on your military jargon test) LOL!
Sixteen hundred- 4:00 pm...military time.
PCS- permanent change of station; the location where a service member is placed for a specified amount of time; can be sent with or without family members, depending on the service member's choice.
DODEA- Department of Defense Education Activity- a civilian agency that manages all schools for children and teenagers of military members in the United States and also overseas at American military bases worldwide.
Osan- Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Where Bella has been assigned for an elementary school position for the coming school year.
TMO- Traffic Management Office. Office that coordinates a Marine's move to a new station. For overseas moves, they pack up your house into three categories: long-term storage, household goods and express shipment. When you go from the states to Europe or Asia, your space significantly decreases, so you make decisions on what you can live without for three years and put them in storage (eg- car, furniture sets {because many places are furnished for you}). Household goods shipment often takes several weeks to arrive overseas. (eg- pots, pans, out-of-season clothes, things you don't NEED every day) The express shipment will arrive when you arrive at your new duty station. These are your everyday necessities. (eg- sheets, clothes, towels, a pot, a pan, etc.)
"Thirty August" - Marine-speak for August 30th. You get used to it. ;)
"wet down"- a party to celebrate the promotion of any staff NCOs or officers. The Marine getting promoted is supposed to cover the tab for anyone who comes out to honor them.
A/N: It's been a wonderful vacation, but they're headed back to reality. Sigh.
Love and thanks to Team Cabana: Cejsmom, Jules and Born and LaMomo. They're the best. And to my Major Hubs for being my military technical advisor; I'll thank you properly later, babe. ;)
To all my readers, reviewers, rec'ers, favoriters, alerters, tweeters and lurkers: thank you from the bottom of my Yummy heart. I appreciate you so, so much. There are over 220K Twilight/Twi-crossover stories out there to choose from, and you're here with me every other week. I can't tell you how much that means to me. Love, love, love.
Super special thanks to the lovely Mid Night-Cougar who wrote up a fantastic rec for TotS on the Rob Attack site for Mission: MilitaryWard on May 10th. It's impossible to paste links here, but if you go to my profile page, that link is listed at the very bottom of my bio. Love to MNC for your support and sweet words!
I have to really dig in to writing the chapters, so review replies may be sparse for the next few chapters. Please know I cherish everything my readers write to me. I always love to hear your thoughts!
I'm donating a TotS outtake to the Fandom4Oklahoma compilation. I can't give you the info about it though because we haven't reached that part in the story. Just trust me that it will absolutely be something you want to read. The cause is a very important one. Please donate at: www . oklahoma . fandom cause . info (just take out the spaces).
My next update will be from the JerZ, peeps! WOOHOO! Next week the babies and I are packing up and leaving the Major to fend for himself for about seven weeks. He'll be off doing training missions and we'll be lounging in my parents' backyard and pool. My goal is to make sure my legs are no longer as bright as glow sticks, but take on a version of color. ;) Here's hoping! All my JerZ/Philly girls: grab your calendars! We are SO getting together! Find me on FB and let's make a date!
xo, Jen