It was spring break of my graduating year. I went to Atlantic City with my dorm roommates, Cassidy, Rachel and Taylor. We were in the casino in the Pelican Hotel when four gorgeous Army men entered the room. I noticed a familiar man with spiky dark blond hair. He was tall at six foot three and muscular. Cassidy nudged me, pointing to the other men with the tall drink of water I drooled over. I felt tingling on my neck as he caught my eye. "Lester," I whispered. He looked more handsome and muscular than the last time I had seen him in the club. Lester obviously worked out, and it made him sexier than ever.
My friend, Cassidy, would never get accused of being shy. She had wavy, waist-length, shiny black hair that contrasted her porcelain skin and grey eyes. Cassidy approached the group and asked them to join us. The other men quickly selected the women they wanted to be with for the night.
Taylor went to the shorter dark-skinned man. She was born in Jamaica and resembled a runway model. Her lithe frame and gorgeous blemish-free face made me jealous. Eyes the colour of dark chocolate and skin tone slightly lighter than the huskiest man, Taylor was an attractive woman.
Rachel, my dark blond and blue-eyed friend, had quickly attached herself to the mocha latte man. He was undeniably handsome, but I only had eyes for the tall blond. The other two men were darker-skinned, and both had their hair buzzed short. They were attractive, but I liked my man, Lester, with the spiky hair. I smiled as I thought about him belonging to me.
It wasn't the right time a few years ago. Maybe we would have better luck this time around. I concentrated on school since it would've been unfair to date another man when Lester Santos owned my heart. Not a day passed without Lester entering my thoughts.
"I guess it's just you and me," Lester announced. His face wore the strangest expression as he touched the back of his neck, mirroring my reaction. Once again, I had Cassidy help me straighten my hair. I feel it, too, sexy.
"Lucky me. Michelle," I said, holding out a hand. Sparks passed between us as we touched, reminding me of the day we met in the church. We couldn't have picked our partners more appropriately. I was hoping to have Lester to myself. My only fear was Lester slipping through my fingers again. I prayed that would never happen. Other women approached, but he ignored them, causing them to glare at me and stomp away.
"Lester," he replied. "The other guys are Ric, Tank and Rob." Each man lifted their chin as Lester said their name. I heard my friends introduce themselves to the other guys, surprised when they gave their real first names. We had a pact to use our middle names when partying. It was a way to maintain our safety and anonymity. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at their lack of security awareness.
"I'm thirsty," I quickly announced, wanting time alone with my man. Lester followed me to the bar to buy my drink. He sat beside me as I drank it and ordered another. Lester made me nervous. It was a different kind of nervousness - not afraid or weirded out - life-changing.
I looked around the casino. Men and women were sitting at the one-armed bandits - slot machines where you pull the lever attached to the right side. There was a card table at the back where people played blackjack. Other patrons sat at slot machines where you pressed buttons to stop the roll. Everyone knows the odds got slanted in favour of the house. I wasn't a gambler.
"You should pace yourself," Lester said, rubbing my inner thigh with his hand. His touch set my hoohah on fire. I could feel my panties getting damper with every stroke. Lester made me want him. He made me crave him. I knew once we connected, it would be forever. "I want you to remember everything about me." I knew there was a zero percent chance of that happening. We already knew a few things about each other, not that he remembered who I was.
"Nah," I said before getting the courage to invite him to my room. As we passed the small chapel, I had a brilliant idea. "Do you have a girlfriend or wife?" I hoped he didn't because I refused to let him get away this time.
"Nope," Les said as he popped the p.
"Huh. I thought a sexy man like yourself would already be attached," I announced.
"Once upon a time, I found the right woman, but I was stupid, and she got away," he had simply replied. I thought I heard him say "until now," but I couldn't be sure. Lester placed his hand on my lower back, then guided me to the elevator. Before the door closed, I noticed my friends walking toward the second elevator with the other men.
Lester followed me to my room, clearing it before I entered. I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of his actions. "Got to ensure we don't get interrupted or have unexpected guests, right, Stephanie?"
"How did you know?" I asked despite knowing the answer. We had that connection. You know, the one where we can sense the other.
"The tingling on my neck. I saw you get into your car that night. Your hair was straight, like tonight," Lester said, running his fingers through my hair. "I miss the curls. Steph, no other woman could ever replace you. I haven't had sex with a woman since the day we met in the church. You're unforgettable. Nobody else sets my world on fire, like you do. When you blocked my number and disabled your email, I was devastated. Please, give me another chance." His hands moving across my back and down my arms heated my body. I nodded, unable to unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth.
Lester briefly released me to remove his shirt. I moaned when I saw the gorgeous, sexy muscles of his abdomen. Lester leaned in, kissing me gently before licking my lips. It didn't take long for him to make our clothes disappear. "Oh, my God," I moaned as I exploded around him.
"Stephanie," he groaned as he emptied inside of me before a look of panic crossed his face. "Baby, we forgot to use a condom." I blame my lack of experience for the lack of judgement.
"I'm clean and on the pill," I whispered. "I have the latest lab results in my purse." His lips smashed against mine as we went for round two. He assured me he was clean and had his results in his wallet. I had only slept with one man since the incident in the Tasty Pastry. Morelli ruined my chance of finding a decent man in Trenton. Dickie was no better than Morelli.
All night, Lester kept waking me up for more. I couldn't get enough of him, and I knew he couldn't resist me. Waking up in the morning married to the man should not have surprised me, yet it did. Neither of us wanted to be without the other. "Baby, are you okay?" he asked.
"Yup," I replied. "When did I get this ring?"
"The same time I got mine," he replied. "At 0300, we decided to get married." His voice was husky from arousal. I felt him harden against my hip.
"Huh. I thought it was a dream," I added.
"You weren't dreaming," Lester said. "I never thought I'd get married." His lips brushed against my collarbone, making me shiver. Goosebumps erupted across my skin.
"It wasn't really something I wanted either. We can get a divorce if you want." I hoped he would say no.
"After I finally got the girl? Nope. Not happening," Lester replied. I was relieved he didn't want to get a divorce. "I can't let you get away from me again."
"When do you leave?" I knew the men were only in Atlantic City for a few days.
"Later today. I've got to add you to my military records and update my will," he answered. "They need to know who to contact in case of emergency."
"Sure," I said, smiling. "I'll make sure you have all my personal information before you leave."
"Thank you, baby," he whispered against my lips. "Come with me." He climbed out of bed and held out his hand. I laced our fingers together before letting him drag me into the shower. The man was magic in bed. In the shower, he was a freaking wizard. Lester caught me when I slid down the tiles. He nearly fell over a few times himself. Having sex in the shower sounded much sexier in books. In reality? Not so much. However, Lester was up for the challenge - pun intended. My legs were almost like jelly when we finished washing each other. We got dirty many times before getting clean.
Lester's time to leave arrived much sooner than I wanted. He kissed me thoroughly before exiting our hotel room. "You have all of my contact details. I'll call or email whenever I can. Love you, baby," he whispered.
"Let me know if you change your mind about being married to me," I whispered in return.
"Not going to happen," Lester repeated. I sighed as I watched him leave. He was a fine specimen of a man. Lester made me promise to frequently email him. Watching Lester leave was harder than the first time. I had the additional concern my husband would die in the line of duty.
Cassidy, Rachel, Taylor and I returned to our dorm on Sunday. Rachel was the first one to notice my wedding band. "You got married," she shouted.
"I took you long enough. I've been wearing it since early Saturday morning. Ya. I never thought I would. Did you and Ric use protection?" I asked Rachel. Taylor and Cassidy sat on the bed, letting Rachel and I talk.
"The first couple of times," Rachel replied as she blushed. I quickly glanced at Taylor and Cassidy, silently asking if they used protection. Both women nodded. I was relieved.
"Rachel, you're not on the pill, and your period is due in a couple of weeks. The window to get pregnant is wide open," I quietly reminded her. Her face paled as she listened to my words.
"My parents are going to kill me," she whispered. "I wasn't thinking. We got caught up in the moment."
"We'll handle it together," I said as I hugged her. Rachel relaxed in my arms as she cried. She thanked me for being a good friend.
"Don't forget about us," Taylor added. "We're here for you too, Rachel."
"If you're pregnant, you can get an abortion," Cassidy said.
Rachel shook her head and said, "I can't, Cass. You know I'm Catholic, and my parents would disown me." I wasn't sure what I would have done if I didn't miscarry the baby when I was sixteen. The thought of getting married to Joseph Morelli made me break out in hives. Being married to Lester warmed me to my core.
"Did you know I got pregnant at sixteen?" I asked. Rachel shook her head before asking what had happened to my baby. "I miscarried at thirteen weeks. Mary Lou and I went horseback riding. I didn't know it could increase my chances of losing the baby. In a way, it was for the best."
Cassidy and Taylor already heard my story. I shared when Cassidy miscarried her baby and Taylor had a pregnancy scare. They never had unprotected sex again and both women went on birth control.
"Why would you say that?" Rachel asked, horrified I was happy about losing my baby.
"My parents would have forced me to marry the man. His dad was an abusive drunk who cheated on his wife. When I went home during our Christmas break, I heard Joe's older brother, Anthony, cheated on his pregnant wife. It's not a life I want," I confessed. "I get enough ridicule from the lovely poems he wrote in every public toilet in Trenton." Rachel had heard that story before. Learning I got pregnant was news to her.
"What if your husband cheats on you? I heard Army men are known to screw around between tours," Rachel said.
"In my heart, I know Lester won't cheat on me. He knows I will remain faithful to him," I replied. Lester was a flirt. If he was anything like my friend, Carl Costanza, he rarely acted on the attention from the women. He learned to keep his hands to himself.
My husband called later that night to inform me that his military documents got updated, and his commanding officer was the only person who knew besides the head of the records department. Lester gave me a number to contact in case of an emergency. He was leaving early in the morning on a three-month deployment in Afghanistan.
A few weeks later, Rachel dragged me into the bathroom stall at the mall. I heard her crying the past few nights when she missed her period. We could set our clocks to her cycles. Unlike mine, Rachel was regular. Every twenty-eight days, she had her period. I went on birth control to regulate my cycle. After getting pregnant by Morelli and losing the baby, I didn't want to get caught unawares ever again. If Lester and I decided to have children, they would be planned pregnancies.
Rachel and I had gone to the mall for retail therapy. I figured we could visit the pharmacy to purchase a pregnancy test. Rachel peed on the stick as I counted down the time. I wasn't one to watch another woman pee, but Rachel needed my support. Three minutes later, we discovered Rachel was pregnant. We exited the stall after she pulled up her pants. "I have to tell my parents," Rachel said with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I know, sweetie," I replied. With my arm wrapped around her shoulders, we returned to the car to head home. It was our graduating year, so Rachel at least finished her degree before her life changed because of one sex-filled night. I was hoping to start a business with her, but I knew her parents wouldn't support the venture now that she was pregnant.
In an email, I told Lester that Ric should contact Rachel. I was honest and gave him the reason, but it was her news to tell Ric regarding the pregnancy. Lester's reply indicated he forwarded Rachel's phone number without telling Ric the reason for contacting her. I was surprised when Lester said he loved me, and I had to respond to the term of endearment. He had said, "Love you," before, but this felt different. It was more.
Dearest Sexy,
I'm surprised again by your use of the three words "I Love You" and wondered if you truly mean them. We barely know each other. No, you can't use our previously exchanged emails as "knowing" me. However, I do know I love you already. But every time you email me, can you tell me one more thing about yourself? I will reciprocate. As a symbol of good faith, I'll tell you a few things about me first, that I had not previously shared.
I do not like cheaters. My ex-boyfriend, Dickie Orr, cheated on me one day after he had proposed. We broke up on Christmas Day when I caught him fucking my childhood nemesis, Joyce Barnhardt. Yes, I got all the STD checks run, and I'm clean. As I told you that night, I have a copy of the results if you want them. Thank goodness Dickie and I had always used a condom.
You know I have an older sister. Valerie, Saint Valerie, as I call her, is two years older than me. She could do no wrong in my mother's eyes while I'm more like the black sheep in the family. I proudly march to my own drummer. Not as much as my cousin Vinnie, but he's an entirely different breed. I assure you, his issues are not genetic.
In all honesty, what we did our night together was out of character for me. I'm not the type of woman for one-night stands, even when I drink too much. I believe you already know that since we got married. Are you asking what am I trying to say to you? I will honour our wedding vows. If you find yourself in a position to break them, let me know to file for divorce. It would break my heart if my husband cheated on me.
Anyway, back to more positive topics. I'm graduating this year, but I don't know if I should accept the intern position at EE Martin or get my MBA.
Please, sexy, stay safe.
Love always, your wife.
I was surprised to get an email back within a few minutes.
Baby, my love,
Calling me sexy made my shitty day much better. Thank you, even though I think you've earned that title. Knowing you would honour our hasty wedding vows made me happier than I can express in words. You already know a few things about where I grew up and I have two brothers and one sister. Both of my parents are still alive.
I know we've only known each other for less than a day, outside the time we met a few years ago, but once again, I felt an unexplainable connection to you when I saw you across the room. The palpable magnetism drew me to you, again. Saying the words "I Love You" has never been easy for me until our night together. Why wait for the traditional dating time frame when we already know we belong together? If it makes you feel better, you can say we've known each other for two and a half years. Technically, it's true. Here are a few more facts about me.
I have a younger sister and two older brothers. My brothers, Christian and Paul, are identical twins. They turned twenty-five in January. My sister Piper is only fourteen. In case you're wondering, I'm twenty-two, and my birthday is April 1st. I know I've shared this information with you before, but I wanted to ensure you remembered.
When I joined the Army, I purchased a home in Trenton. Actually, in Hamilton Township. Check your keychain. I left you a key to our house. The address is on the paper I gave you with my email address and new phone number.
As I had already told you, I have a reputation of being a player, which I assure you is not the truth. I'm a huge flirt, but I rarely act. You, my love, are the exception.
I've forwarded the intel to Ric, so your friend should be hearing from him soon. I know he would do the right thing.
Regarding school, I'll support whatever decision you make. You told me your parents paid for the first year of your undergraduate degree before pulling the funding. I know you mentioned that you received scholarships and worked to pay for school. You explained that you don't have enough funds to pay for the MBA. Do whatever you wish, my love. I have enough money in my account to cover your tuition, should you decide to go that route.
My grandfather passed away during my deployment after we first met. I received a sizeable inheritance from his estate. His will stated I could access the remaining funds at age twenty-five or if I married, whichever came first. All you need to do is take a copy of our marriage certificate to the lawyer, and he'll release the money to pay for your education.
I'm working in the communications tent and will email whenever it's safe to do so. If you don't hear from me, please don't worry. My CO likes to reassign our duties every month.
Please, protect my heart.
Love, Les
I laughed at his closing words. If you join them together, it would spell loveless. Assuming Lester still had internet access, I wrote, "I've decided to accept the internship. We'll save your inheritance for a rainy day. I'll be twenty-two on October 12th. Write me whenever you can. Love ya, sexy." Lester wrote back that he respected and supported my decision to take the job in Newark.