Nathan Bridger had just finished quite a day of his own. First there had been an issue with a launch and of course no day was complete without some knuckle brained idea of Kreigs! It had been a very long day indeed and he wanted nothing more than to return to his quarters and spend a peaceful evening with a good book. Some alone time was just what the doctor ordered. Hmmm….the doctor...as he approached his cabin his mind drifted to Kristin. The walk to his cabin kept him far from her domain and he couldn't just "swing by" on his way home for the night as much as he wanted to.
Nathan opened the hatch and closed the door to secure the lock and shut the blind before switching on the lights. He couldn't help but sense something, exactly what that something was he wasn't sure. It wasn't a feeling of danger, it was something else but he quickly brushed it aside thinking it merely the stress of the day getting to him. He absent mindedly unbuttoned his uniform shirt before deciding perhaps a quick drink before he shower would be just the way to transition from work to home. The ambient light in the room allowed enough for him to step to the bar in his cabin to pour himself a drink and that's when he knew his senses were right. His hearing picked up the faintest of noises.
Holding his freshly poured drink in his hand he held the glass just a little tighter as he strained to hear it again. Not wanting to give anything away his military training allowed him to steer the course of his regular routine. He took a sip of his drink, enjoying the feelings of the slight burn as it made its way down the back of his throat into his stomach and he waited straining to hear but nothing reached his ears.
Perhaps the fatigue was getting to him after all. He internally scolded himself for allowing his imagination to get away with him and he removed his shirt laying it on the back of one of his chairs. His mind wandered back to Kristin….what was she doing right now? Settling in for the night? Possibly asleep already and he wondered if perhaps he could see if she was still awake. He'd recently realized that he often couldn't settle himself for the evening without talking to her or seeing her one last time for the day. The feeling was unsettling to say the least and he chuckled a little at himself and his wandering mind.
Finishing his drink he left the glass on the table and thought only of enjoying a hot shower to calm his nerves before retiring for the night. Slowly he started to pull his white undershirt from the waistband of his pants as he turned and headed towards the bathroom. As he stepped towards his bunk area to finish undressing he froze as the words reached his ears.
"Hello Sailor"
The voice was rich and silky and he was 100% certain who it belonged to before his eyes found hers.
"Kristin?"
Taking a few more steps he neared the bunk and he suddenly found he couldn't move. His mouth quickly dried and all he could hear was the sounds of his pulse pounding in his ears as his heart rate seemed to hit the roof in seconds as he eyes took in the sight before him.
TBC…..