Butterflies and Turtle Doves

Setting: Sam and Jules are dating secretly and Sam finally decides to give Jules the butterfly necklace.

February 13 – Sam's Apartment – 10:00 p.m.

Sam quickly opened his dresser drawer. He only had a few moments to extract the box before Jules came in. He needed to slip it into his go bag before she saw him. Sam's hand curled around the velvety box that had been hidden in the back of his drawer for over two years.

He'd been waiting for the right time to give it to Jules. When they had gotten back together, after the Toth interrogation, he'd contemplated giving it to her then. But he'd held off because he didn't want to scare Jules away. He needed to know that she would not cut and run again before he laid his heart completely wide open again.

As he pulled out the box, Sam felt a fluttering in his stomach-butterflies, some would say. Fitting Sam thought. He closed the drawer and slipped the box into his bag just before Jules appeared at his bedroom doorway.

"Sam, what are you doing?" Jules asked.

Sam glanced up. "Just adding a few things to my go bag." He stood up and slung the bag over his shoulder. "I'm ready."

Jules yawned. "Good, I'm exhausted and tomorrow is going to be another crazy day. Especially with the rookie starting. Of all days to start-Raf's gonna get a rough initiation to SRU tomorrow."

Nodding, Sam agreed. "Yeah. I didn't believe you that first Valentine's day I was with the team. But after fielding non-stop calls that day, and the past two Valentine's days, I completely believe you." Then he teased Jules by adding, "Maybe it's all the extra chocolate that makes people go nuts."

Jules' eyes flashed in friendly challenge. "Not chocolate. Never chocolate. Chocolate soothes the soul. Probably the murder of all those innocent roses."

Sam draped his arm over Jules shoulders and pulled her close as they headed towards his apartment door. He still loved teasing her. Sam chuckled. "So … I should get you chocolate for Valentine's Day instead of roses?"

Jules snorted. "I don't celebrate that artificial day that card and flower companies created just sell more stuff."

"A bit cynical there, Jules."

"Maybe. But after what we see on Valentine's day. It's kinda hard to get into all the cutesy cupid arrows and hearts." Jules thought a moment about a call they had last Valentine's Day where a jilted lover shot her ex-boyfriend with a cross-bow. He'd died but they'd been able to save the new girlfriend before she met the same fate. Jules added, "Especially when we see the cupid arrows actually shot into hearts. Not pretty."

Sam nodded. Yeah, they saw some sick stuff on Valentine's Day. Outside his apartment, Sam stopped and removed his arm from Jules' shoulders to lock deadbolt. He wondered at his timing. He knew Jules wasn't into the whole Valentine's Day thing but he wanted to show her a different side of the day. What it could mean to them. That it could be a special day for them regardless of what they saw on the job.

He smiled at Jules and said, "That may be, but there are two sides. Dark and light."

Jules let Sam's comment roll around in her head a moment. He was more sentimental than her on certain things. She hooked her arm in Sam's as they headed to the stairs. Sam had the worst luck with elevators, he'd been stuck more than once in them, and they were too tired to chance getting stuck tonight. Jules grinned as she recalled the time she'd gotten stuck with Sam at his old apartment complex. That had been quite fun and fulfilled one of Sam's fantasies. One of her fantasies too, if she was being honest. But she wasn't up to a repeat tonight.

She sighed, "It's just another day, Sam. A busy one at that. Let's get home and get to bed."

Sam gave her a WOW smile. "In bed with you sounds good."

Jules smiled. "Not tonight soldier. Sleep only. I'm dead on my feet."

February 14 – Jules' Home – 4:00 a.m.

Sam lightly trailed kisses across Jules' cheek and down to her neck to her pulse point. He loved waking her this way. The dreamy quality of her eyes when they opened set his heart aflame and sent a surge of desire coursing through his body.

"Mmmm." Jules sighed as she became aware of the soft and tender warmth of Sam's lips on her neck. Her hands moved without conscious thought and gently stroked through his hair. God, she loved this man and waking this way was wonderful. She felt so loved under his ministrations. His hand move to her thigh and as the caresses moved upwards a quiver of anticipation rippled through her body.

Sam's gravelly, morning and passion infused voice said, "Morning, Beauty," as he lifted his head to gaze into her eyes.

Jules slowly opened her eyes knowing that Sam would meet hers. His blues eyes were already glazed and smoky with need. She loved that she could do that to him. They were so good together. Her hand reached for him and she felt he was ready, so ready. "Morning, Soldier. At attention, already."

"Hmmm, yeah. My CO does that to me. Permission to proceed with my mission Ma'am."

Jules smiled, "Permission granted."

Their lips locked and their kisses became hot and heavy as Sam slipped inside a ready Jules. Their love making started slow and built speed and intensity as the climbed the peak of passion together. They crested the top one right after the other and tumbled down as their bodies vibrated with release.

Sam rolled to his side taking Jules with him, not wanting to break their connection. He gazed at Jules. He was the luckiest man in the world. He'd found his beauty of life. She was forever in his arms. His heart beat for her alone and she held his soul in her hands.

Jules gazed at Sam and reached up to caress his cheek. "I love it when you wake me like that."

Smiling Sam replied, "I love waking you like that. Happy Valentine's Day."

She moved in close and kissed his lips gently then pulled back. "This is a gift I will never turn down regardless of the day. I hope you didn't get roses, it's sad to see all those beautiful flowers die."

Sam grinned. "No roses." He kissed Jules and then rolled away disengaging himself from her. He felt the instant loss of her. If he could he would stay connected to her always. Not practical but oh so desirable.

He stood and headed to his go bag. Sam felt Jules' eyes tracking his movements. He squatted down and unzipped his bag and palmed the box.

Jules watched Sam walk to his go bag and wondered what he was doing. She loved watching him move au-natural. He had a fluid grace to his movements and she loved watching his firm tight ass as he walked. Her eyes did not see the scars that littered his body. She didn't see the rather large one on his butt from when the glass impaled him at Gleason Mall or the small one that she didn't know how he got. No, she never saw his scars. All she saw was the man. The very sexy, hot man that knew how to pleasure her and that she loved very deeply.

Sam stood and turned. Jules was laying in his full view. God, she was beautiful, strong, confident and perfect. Sam moved back to the bed and sat on the edge. The hand that was not holding the box reached to Jules' back. His index finger traced the well-known butterfly tattoo. He knew the design intimately, he'd traced it so many times and thought of the day he could give her the necklace.

He held her eyes as he said, "No roses and I know you really aren't into Valentine's Day. But …" He brought his hand forward and opened it showing Jules the small velvet box. "I can't think of a better day to give this to you. You are so special to me Jules. Have been for a very long time."

Jules' eyes widened when she saw the box. Was Sam proposing? If he was, what was she going to say? It would mean one of them had to leave the team. She didn't think either of them were ready for that. Jules held her tongue and silently begged that it wasn't a proposal. If it was and she turned him down on Valentine's Day, God, that would be horrible.

Sam closed his eyes a moment gathering his thoughts. Then opened them and continued. "I like your butterfly tattoo. I know it will sound odd, maybe even a bit creepy. But I've always liked butterflies. Ever since I was a kid. Sara loved butterflies. She liked that they started out as an ugly worm and then transformed into a beautiful butterfly. When I helped her catch butterflies, Sara would always tell me to be careful of their wings. She wanted to look at them up close, but she always released them saying that nothing should be held against its will.

"When I think of butterflies, I think of you. Your love wrapped me in a cocoon and transformed me. Jules, I love you and I have a little something for you that I hope you like. Happy Valentine's Day." Sam opened the box and held it out for Jules to see.

Jules' first reaction upon seeing the necklace was, thank god it wasn't a proposal. But that was blown away when she recognized the butterfly necklace. Her eyes wide with surprise, Jules looked up into his smiling eyes. "Sam, … that's … that's the …"

Sam nodded. "Yeah. That's the necklace."

Disbelief coursing through her Jules reached out and touched the butterfly. She managed to ask, "How? It was gone when I went to buy it."

Sam's eyes widened with shock. "You went to go buy it?"

Jules bit her lower lip and inhaled sharply though her nose. She nodded. She blew out the breath then admitted, "I went back to Tourterelle Boutique several days after we were there. I wanted a special memory of that kiss."

Sam smiled as he took the butterfly necklace out of the box and opened the clasp.

Jules sat up and moved her hair out of the way as Sam reached around her neck to put the necklace on her. Once it was on Jules looked down at the butterfly as it lay on her chest. Her fingers reached up to touch it again. Then she looked up at Sam. "It's beautiful. Thank you." But then she realized he had not answered her question. "How? When?"

Leaning down, Sam kissed Jules gently and then pulled back. He gazed into her eyes and confessed. "I went back to Tourterelle Boutique that very night. I had to buy you the necklace, even though I never knew if I'd be able to give it to you."

Jules wrapped her arms around Sam's neck and pulled him to her. As their lips met, Jules knew in that moment that if and when Sam asked her to marry him, she would say yes without hesitation. Theirs was a love that nothing could part. Two hearts and bodies but one soul. They were truly a pair of turtle doves because they were mates for life.

.

AN: As noted when I completed Sam's Second Christmas, most of my time has been focused on transforming my stories into a world of my own. I have completed and published the first book in my Beauty of Life series. It follows the world I have created here with necessary changes.

Now available as an ebook or paperback on Amazon
(note: ebooks can be read on computers, tablets and phones with a free reader app from Amazon - no Kindle required.)

FORSAKEN: On the Edge of Oblivion
by Laura Acton

Come meet Daniel William Broderick, Alexandra 'Lexa' McKenna, Jonathan Hardy, Nicholas Pastore, Dante 'Loki' Baldovino, Abraham De Haven, Raymundo Palomo, Tia Walsh, Walter Gambrill and Brody Mikhail Hunter. Delve into a complex world of courageous men and women riding a roller coaster of emotions and danger. Explore the nature of relationships and bonds developed and strengthened in the face of adversity.

Book Summary:

Dan Broderick is on the edge of oblivion. After a friendly fire incident, his heart and soul were ripped to shreds. He chose to leave Special Forces when his unit, men he considered brothers, turned their backs on him. Dan returned to Toronto where he hoped to find the beauty of life and make a difference as a sniper for the Tactical Response Force. Will his new team pull him back from the edge or be the reason he slips into oblivion?

Alpha Team is the elite team of Toronto's Tactical Response Force. Five men and one woman with a rare familial bond, help each other cope with the dark side of humanity as they keep the citizens of Toronto and each other safe. Their team balance is knocked off kilter when an unwanted new member is forced on them. Will Alpha Team's resentment of the new member prevent them from recognizing the wounded soul in their midst before it's too late to save him?

FORSAKEN contains 80% new content combined with some tweaked/expanded parts of previous stories. Forsaken begins with Dan's meeting with the General to exit the military. There is an all new way that Dan first meets the team and Lexa (JAM fans should like this way a lot).

Continue reading for a sneak peek of FORSAKEN: On the Edge of Oblivion ...

Chapter 1

July 10
Afghanistan – General's Office

The barren, brown landscape within his view, exactly matched the wasteland where his heart used to be. He was an empty, scarred shell of desolation. Everything worth anything in him had been blown away on May twenty-sixth.

He couldn't bear the pain of living with what he'd done. After weeks of investigation, the review board had cleared him of fault, but he would never forgive himself. It was his fault no matter what anyone said. The guilt and remorse weighed heavy on him.

Brody was dead and it was his fault. His bullet had blown away the person that meant the most to him in this world. His best friend, his brother, the man that saw him for who he really was and accepted him, faults and all. The man that had saved him countless times and wouldn't let him fall into darkness was now dead, at his hand.

Master Corporal Daniel William Broderick stood at rigid attention before the General's desk as he waited for the General to join him in the office. The window to the outside world was the only place he allowed his eyes to go.

He didn't dare look at the desk. It would be a reminder that he had no one now. No one. He was alone again. Not that he needed a reminder, it was an ever-present thought in his head. One that was unrelenting, mocked him and demanded that he end it all.

No one would mourn him, like they mourned Brody. The world would be a better place without him. He was a failure in all ways that mattered. He failed to protect Sara, Brody, Ripsaw, Yankee, Shy, Buzz, Dutch, Gambit, Unicorn and a host of others. They were all dead because he failed.

The past six years had been purgatory, but at least he hadn't been alone. Brody and the unit had made it bearable. Now that was all gone. Brody was dead and his unit brothers had turned their backs on him. Not that he blamed them. He had committed the greatest sin of all, he'd killed one of their own.

He was back to being alone in this world. Everyone and everything he ever cared about was ripped from him once again. The first time it happened, he was only nine years old and his whole world changed one summer afternoon. Dan had lost everything dear to him in a blink of an eye when he failed to protect his little sister Sara. His parents abandoned him. His father wished it had been him that died instead of Sara.

And … for the past six years, his father had tried to kill him—of that he was sure. It was only through the efforts of his unit that he'd survived.

The deep aching pain of Brody's death threatened to overtake Dan again. He wished that he had access to a weapon, any weapon, so he could end the pain. But he'd been locked in a cell for the past six weeks which was devoid of anything he could use to end it. He'd also been watched by guards around the clock.

When in his cell, he was allowed nothing more than his t-shirt and shorts. There was only a mattress on the floor—they didn't even give him a cot. He was given only things that could be eaten without the use of utensils. His cell didn't even have a toilet. He had to ask to use a toilet and was escorted to the facilities by four armed soldiers who always looked at him with disdain.

He'd tried to escape once, hoping that they'd shoot him, but they only tasered him. They took joy in taunting him, calling him killer and murderer, and zapping him so many times that he'd blacked out. When he woke up, he was back in his cell. There was a new set of guards after that.

The new guards also looked at him with disdain. It was also mixed with pity. Disdain he could handle, he deserved that for what he'd done. Pity, on the other hand, he could not handle. Pity dredged up so many more horrific memories for him and made him want to kill the guards with his bare hands.

Dan pushed back down the memories of his three months of torture at the hands of terrorists that pity evoked. Those memories had been locked away for four years and needed to stay that way. Brody had helped him lock them away in a special place and move forward. The unit had helped too. Especially his unit Commanding Officer, Blaze.

Blaze had been the embodiment of a father that Dan so desperately wanted. It had taken time to build a bond and trust between them. Trusting was never easy for Dan after being discarded by his natural family. But he'd come to trust Blaze and thought of him as a father figure. The bullet that had blown away Brody, had also severed that bond of trust.

When Dan woke in the hospital six weeks ago, Blaze wouldn't even meet his eyes. None of the unit would. After confirming that Brody was dead, no one spoke a single word to him. After the first three days, they never came to visit him either.

Dan had felt a connection with each of his unit buddies. They were all brothers, their bonds forged in the fires of hell. Bonds that Dan thought could never be broken—but they had, his bullet blew those bonds away.

Everyone had deserted him again. And it was all his fault, just like before with Sara. His natural family and now his chosen unit family were gone. There was nothing left for him here. Nothing. He needed to leave—to go far away.

Dan clamped down on his deep, aching pain, grief and shame. He firmly affixed his mask. It wouldn't do to let anyone know the pain and guilt he felt—not that anyone would give a damn. But he needed his shields firmly in place so his weakness wouldn't show. Especially not to the General.

He could never allow the General to see his vulnerability. The man would use it against him. The General had been making his life hell for six years and Dan knew if he showed weakness, the General would twist the knife in deeper.

The General wanted him dead and had been trying to kill him for six years now. Somehow, he had always managed to survive, even when the odds were against him. General Broderick wanted him to die in service to his country so the General could maintain the illusion of family honor.

That fact was one of the reasons Dan wasn't dead yet. Oh, he wanted to die, there was no disputing that fact and he would eventually find a way to die and end his pain. But before he did that, Dan wanted to stick it to the General first—cause him some pain of his own in return for all the pain the General had caused him over years.

Ending his military career would be the first step in doing so. Dan would throw back into the General's face all that the General held dear. He would break with generations of family tradition and leave the military. The fact he was doing so under the cloud of being the one responsible for the death of a soldier in a friendly fire incident was simply icing on the cake. It had actually facilitated his early exit from Special Forces and the military.

As he continued to stand a rigid attention, Dan wished the General would hurry up and get in here. The faster he got this over with, the faster he could leave this place. He needed to leave and he needed to shed this tan uniform. A uniform that had renewed his life ten years ago—when he met Brody in boot camp—but then ended it six weeks ago when he killed Brody.

General's Office – Outer Office

General William Arthur Broderick strode into his outer office where all his staff were located. He'd been delayed by a critical meeting with Colonel Thomas Sutton. He disliked making Daniel wait but there was no way around it.

Everyone stopped what they were doing when the General strode in. What was happening today would be food for the gossip mill. Several of them thought they were lucky enough to have first row seats and were looking forward to the many beers would be bought for them tonight as they would recount what was about to happen.

For the past six weeks, gossip regarding the friendly fire incident that resulted in the death of Master Corporal Brody Hunter was rampant. It had shocked the Special Forces community. So many wanted to see Master Corporal Broderick brought up on murder charges and felt that Dan Broderick was being given special treatment because he was the General's son. Others were more compassionate. They were quick to defend Broderick's actions as an unfortunate accident.

It was clear from all accounts that Broderick had been given the all clear to fire. The only unknown was the how and why of Hunter's presence in the target zone. Many who wanted charges filed believed that Dan should've noticed that he was firing on a friendly. Especially since Hunter and Broderick were in the same unit.

Stopping in front of Corporal Merrill's desk, the General asked, "Do you have the paperwork ready for Master Corporal Broderick?"

"Almost, Sir," Corporal Cody Merrill stated as he stood. He held out the file to the General. "It has been prepared exactly as you requested. I just need to finalize the voluntary reactivation paperwork. It will take me a few minutes."

"Is the Master Corporal waiting in my office?"

Corporal Merrill nodded. "Yes, Sir. Been there for about twenty minutes."

General Broderick reached for the file.

As the General took the file from him, Merrill relaxed a bit, but only a bit. The General was an imposing man. He wasn't nicknamed Badass for nothing. The General was the epitome of military bearing, through and through. He was a hard man from everything Merrill could see and knew about the man.

His face didn't show his years, the chiseled angular lines and firm square jaw still attracted attention from females. Even in his mid-fifties, the General's military-cut hair was still golden blonde. Merrill thought that gray and white hairs were probably afraid of General Badass, so didn't dare try to sprout on his head. The General's eyes were a deep shade of sapphire blue that could, when the General was angry, freeze a soldier in his place with the piercing intensity. When the General dressed-down soldiers, his voice alone could cut a soldier to shreds, it could be icy and unyieldingly hard.

No one doubted the deadliness of General Badass. His physique was still muscular and well-toned—nothing had gone soft on the General. It was suggested he could probably still best many of the younger soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. General Broderick had been a Special Forces sniper before he was promoted to lead Special Forces. His record for distance, accuracy and speed had only been supplanted by his son, Master Corporal Broderick.

Merrill knew that General Broderick had come up through the ranks rapidly and became a Brigadier General at the age of thirty-four and a full General by forty. There was talk that his path had almost been guaranteed with the connections of his late father, Brigadier General Arthur Broderick.

The General looked a lot like his late father, just like the Master Corporal looked like a younger version of the General with a few slight differences. Merrill knew this because he had done his research and because the Broderick family was well known in military circles. They were a military family and were in every branch, Army, Navy and Air Force. For at least eight generations back, maybe even more, every Broderick male joined the military. They served with honor and distinction and either died in the field or were eventually forced to retire.

Not a single Broderick had ever left the military when they were still able bodied.

Until now.

Corporal Merrill watched the General head towards his office. The General's son was breaking with tradition and leaving the military. Merrill was glad of that. It resolved his problems. He wouldn't have to deal with Major Plouffe anymore. Cody was glad to be finally free of that man's machinations.