AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey. Events pick up soon after the previous chapter concluded.
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Sixty-Six: Could It Be Love?
Hereford
Saturday, 1 December, 2007
Sarah brought her car to a halt outside her apartment building, turned towards Chuck, and flashed him a warm smile in the front seat.
He smiled back, then was about to depart the car, but paused after receiving a text alert.
Sarah observed him with interest as he retrieved his phone from his pocket, examined the device for a moment, and then burst into hearty laughter.
"What is it?" she asked, wholly immersed in her boyfriend's amusement.
Chuck continued laughing and turned to meet her glance. "It's Kyle. He sent me a text."
"What did he say?"
Chuck handed her his phone. "Read it yourself."
Sarah took the phone out of Chuck's hand and studied the screen, containing a text message, which read: You're dead, you posh scouse BASTARD!
She snorted successively, turning her gaze back to meet Chuck's eyes.
"You're not even a scouser because you're from Cheshire not Liverpool."
Chuck's laughter increased exponentially as he moved a hand to his heart. "Oh, Sarah, to hear you finally admit that brings such warmth to my heart!"
Sarah fought back a fit of giggles, her face transforming into a beaming expression of joy. "He was right about the posh part, though."
"You can talk!" he scoffed with a grin. "Because Warrington is a lot more common than Kensington. It's not even close, Ms Walker, but if you keep it up, I'll be going home."
With a sweet and playful demeanour, Sarah, while holding a stare with him, whispered, "Suit yourself because you'll be missing out on the best sex tonight."
Chuck squinted his eyes, fully grasping the implications and promise that lay ahead. "I retract all remarks and instead stress that we should head inside!" he said with a bright smile.
Sarah giggled, which to Chuck, sounded like a sprinkle of sugar in the air.
The lovers departed Sarah's car, the sound of the doors locking behind them.
They walked towards the entrance of her apartment building, their footsteps muffled by the evening breeze.
On arrival, they entered inside, with Chuck holding the door open for Sarah to enter inside.
When Chuck closed the door after him, he turned and caught Sarah's glance, who'd looked back at him with a smile.
He smiled back, moving in motion to continue, but he suddenly froze in place. "Oh, crap!"
Sarah stopped with him and turned fully to face him. "What?"
"I forgot to reply to the text," he said with a grin.
Sarah simply shook her head, keeping all amusement hidden behind a mask of composure.
Chuck took out his phone, navigated to Kyle's text, hit reply, then sent nothing but a barrage of laughing emojis mixed with a middle finger emoji or two here or there, then hit send.
He looked back at Sarah with a beaming grin. "Done."
Sarah couldn't contain her amusement anymore, smiling at Chuck as he moved to take her hand.
They ascended the stairwell and then walked a few paces until they arrived outside her door.
Sarah put in her key, opened the door, and they entered inside.
"Well, baby, let's get started on our anniversary," Chuck said.
"Aren't you worried about Kyle's threat?" she asked.
He shrugged without a care in the world. "He's hot-headed and can't control his anger. That's his problem."
With a subtle nod, Sarah's understanding was clear in the warmth of her smile.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Chuck and Sarah's meal together was in its final preparation phase, with the last of the ingredients now being prepared by the couple.
Once they were prepared, Sarah cracked open a bottle of Pinot Noir wine she'd purchased to go with their meal while Chuck fetched two wine glasses.
With the glasses in hand, Chuck returned to Sarah's proximity, placed them down on the surface counter, and then moved behind her to wrap his arms around her.
Sarah smiled to receive him, arching her head as he moved to plant a soft kiss on her neck.
Comfortable in his new position, he contributed his half to the warm gaze they shared.
After a moment of their close intimacy, Chuck loosened his hold while Sarah prepared the wine.
Once she had, she turned, handed Chuck a glass, and took one herself.
"Thanks," he said with a loving grin.
She smiled back.
With a little time to wait before additional cooking activity, they moved to take up comfortable positions on the sofa, relaxing themselves into each other.
Sarah turned on the TV, but the striking beauty of Sarah captured Chuck's attention, his mind overwhelmed with awe and gratitude for having such a perfect partner.
Within seconds, her focus shifted back to Chuck, and in that instant, their eyes met, creating an unbreakable connection as they exchanged smiles.
"So, how was the first month with me then?" he asked.
A look of pure bliss washed over her face, unable to hide the happiness she felt from being with him. "Perfect," she said with a confirming nod. "I just wish we'd had more time to ourselves during it."
He suppressed fond laughter. "Me too."
"What about you?" she asked, turning a little nervous. "How was your first month with me?"
"Positive," he said with a grin. "Overwhelmingly positive, just like the first month of knowing you before that one."
Sarah snorted as she gazed fondly at him. "I was uptight, reserved, and on our first days of knowing each other; I was really harsh with you."
"I didn't see it like that," he breathed, his fingers tracing a delicate path along her back. "It just really disturbed you about the grim realities we face in the SAS; killing other people."
She nodded, a smile of recognition and connection then spreading across her face, feeling her deep bond with Chuck, as if they were kindred spirits. "I'm surprised you're cut out for it because you're not that kind of guy. You're the most gentle guy I've met."
"I'm not cut out for that part of the job, at least," he admitted, forcing a smile. "Does a terrorist intent on killing civilians deserve to die? Unequivocally, yes, but it still eats at you over time, especially when coupled with the loss of teammates and civilians during those operations..."
Sarah placed her glass of wine onto the table, then shifted her focus back to Chuck, making a deliberate effort to establish a more intense eye contact. She could sense that the moment called for a serious conversation. "Why are you still in then?"
"For the same reasons you are," he said with a consoling smile. "Because you're not cut out for it either."
Sarah registered his remarks, but remained silent, not wanting to add verbal authenticity to those thoughts.
He continued, "Beyond your hardened exterior, the girl deep inside you doesn't belong around the barbarity of the SAS, either. You joined to prove all those who doubted you wrong, going a step further than them, and achieving legendary status alongside the rest of us, the best of the best."
"It wasn't just because of that I joined…" she protested.
With a gentle smile, he nodded. "I know… You joined to protect and serve too, to do your part and contribute to protecting those in need, and bringing to account those who do wrong. Beyond the need for comradeship, which was instilled into me by the male side of my family, that's why I'm still in, too, and why I joined. For the same reasons as you, that's how I know."
Sarah looked at Chuck, her eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and vulnerability. She knew he understood her on a level that nobody else did. They had both chosen this path, not just for personal validation, but because they believed in the greater purpose of protecting others.
As they sat on the sofa, their bodies melting into each other again, Chuck continued, "We may not be cut out for the brutality of this job, but we have each other to lean on. We can find solace and strength in our support of each other. You can count on me, Sarah."
Sarah nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She had always been strong and independent, but Chuck had shown her it was okay to lean on someone else, to share the burden of their experiences. In him, she had found a partner who understood the complexities of their chosen profession, as well as his gentle heart to help her through the tough challenges they'd already faced, and will continue to face long into the future.
"I'm grateful to have you by my side," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity and meaning, her eyes locked with his.
Chuck tightened his embrace around her, his words laced with tenderness, "And I'm grateful to have you. Together, we can navigate the challenges and find moments of peace and happiness amidst the chaos."
Sarah smiled at him, their gaze compromised.
After a moment, she collected their wine glasses.
They clinked their wine glasses together, a silent toast to their resilience and growing commitment to each other. At that moment, they knew they were not alone in their struggles. They had found strength in their relationship, and they would continue to face whatever came their way, hand in hand.
As they sat in each other's arms, the TV playing softly in the background, they both felt a profound sense of gratitude that they had found each other. They knew that no matter what the future held, they would face it together, their partnership guiding them through any darkness and into the light.
They relaxed together for a few more minutes until they were alerted to another text for Chuck.
Chuck and Sarah shared an amused glance as Chuck took out his phone and navigated to the text.
He soon erupted in an outburst of laughter, which increased Sarah's need to see the text herself.
Once she'd read the text, a message from Cole with a picture he'd taken of Kyle in his predicament with an accompanying message reading: Look at this pillock! she shared the laughter with Chuck.
"I'll be sending out the video I took soon too," Sarah gloated.
Chuck caught and suppressed another burst of laughter. "You're turning into one of the lads."
Sarah fought off amusement too, then said, "It's no less than what he deserved."
He nodded. "I almost swung for him after what he said to you."
She flashed him a restrained smile, caressing her hand down his arm. "I can fight my own battles."
"I know…" he said, drawing off his words. "I just don't want you to fight them alone."
With every passing second, his words seeped into her being, deepening their connection as an enveloping silence took over.
After a long moment, she broke the intimate silence. "Let's finish cooking," she said, taking his hand.
He nodded, allowing her lead as they made for the kitchen space.
One hour later
Chuck and Sarah returned to cosy up on the sofa with their final glass of wine.
"Well, beautiful, the meal was delicious, the company even better," Chuck said with a grin.
Sarah smiled back at him, her eyes locked with his in intimacy.
They entered a silence again, which amplified their intimacy and added a sense of urgency to their connection.
Once he got lumps in his throat, Chuck leaned forward to put his wineglass on the table.
Sarah mirrored his actions.
Then they turned back to face each other.
"I don't think I want to watch TV," he said with a telling look.
She shook her head, wanting to add to the intensity by keeping words to a minimum.
From there, they melted into each other, embracing as they shared a kiss.
They parted only to get their breath back, then went back for more, their desire for each other exploding.
In perfect harmony, they rose to their feet, their mouths fused together as they headed towards the bedroom, consumed by their passion and eager to see out the rest of the evening in indulging in their yearning behind closed doors…
O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Sunday, 2 December, 2007
Chuck woke up in bed with Sarah, feeling the softness of her bare skin and the silkiness of her golden hair against him.
Instinctively, he tightened his grip on her, his arm enveloping her in a protective embrace.
She responded to his movement, backing herself further into him to make herself more snug.
Chuck gradually awakened, his senses immediately drawn to her alluring scent.
"Are you awake, beautiful?" he whispered.
A moment passed, but she didn't answer, showing her continued sleep state.
Chuck smiled, then gently brushed a strand of her golden hair, planting a soft kiss into the spot once he finished.
From there, he thought for a moment, then got a sudden idea to serve Sarah breakfast in bed.
He pondered the idea for a moment longer, soon grinning at the thought of cherishing and looking after her before he carefully untangled himself from Sarah's embrace and slowly slid out of bed.
As Chuck withdrew from her, the room was bathed in a warm, golden morning light, casting a soft glow on their bodies.
Once stood, the hardwood floor felt cool against his feet, a stark contrast to the warmth of the bed with his sleeping beauty.
Chuck walked across the room, the floor creaking slightly with each step, until he exited the bedroom.
He walked gingerly across the floor of the apartment hallway to avoid waking Sarah, then he entered the kitchen area.
Once he was in place, he took a moment to rub additional sleep from his eyes, then he set about in his preparations.
Chuck moved with purpose around Sarah's kitchen, gathering ingredients and utensils, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him. The rhythmic whisking of eggs in a bowl brought a smile to his face while he imagined the delight it would bring to Sarah. The anticipation of surprising her with a delicious breakfast filled him with such joy.
With each passing moment, the aroma of cooking food grew stronger, filling the kitchen with an intoxicating scent. Chuck felt his heart fill with affection as he imagined the look of appreciation on Sarah's face when he brought the tray to her. The warmth from the hob of the oven provided his bare body with warmth, while the relaxing sounds of breakfast being prepared created a soothing symphony that echoed through the room.
This morning, Chuck felt more relaxed than he'd ever felt. He knew it all stemmed from being with the perfect girlfriend he'd found.
With the eggs well on the way, Chuck gathered a few rashers of bacon, adding it to a frying pan next to the eggs.
The sound of sizzling bacon soon filled the room, punctuated by the occasional pop and crackle.
He spent a few minutes cooking the two hob ingredients, and, once finished, he set about finishing the food by making toast with the toaster.
While the bread was undergoing heating with the heating elements of the toaster, Chuck prepared two glasses of orange juice, the smell of fresh toast permeating the air, mingling with Sarah's scent that still clung to his skin.
After one last minute, the moment finally arrived. Chuck carefully arranged the tray with the orange juices and two plates of crispy bacon and scrambled eggs on toast. The clinking of silverware against porcelain completed the symphony as he carried the tray back to the bedroom.
As he entered the room, the sight before him took his breath away. Sarah lay there, bathed in sunlight, her hair flowing like a golden waterfall across the pillows.
She was awake, probably awoken by the smell of the food.
"Hey," she said, her tone hoarse from the sleep.
Chuck couldn't help but smile, overwhelmed by her natural beauty. "Hi, beautiful. I brought breakfast in bed."
As she registered his gesture, he thought he saw her eyes sparkle.
She soon smiled at him, her appreciation of his gesture clear, as she moved to sit up in bed to receive the tray.
He smiled back, then gently placed the tray on Sarah's lap, feeling a surge of warmth and affection as he looked into her eyes. They shared a silent connection, a deep understanding of the attraction and building intimacy they had for each other.
And in that moment, as Chuck climbed back into bed and they savoured the taste of breakfast in bed together, the pureness of the emotion they felt towards each other overwhelmed Chuck, a feeling that made him realise he was in love with her.
One hour later
Chuck and Sarah stood close to her kitchen together.
They had been here for a short while, and Chuck stood in a dreamlike state, his mind preoccupied with the realisation he had when he brought breakfast to Sarah. He'd fallen in love in the two relationships he'd had before Sarah, so he knew the signs. The thing that had caught him off guard—and it was the only thing—was the early arrival of his love for Sarah, although it wasn't really a surprise to him because of their perfect compatibility and the intense bond they shared as teammates.
Sarah had picked up on Chuck's daydreaming, to the extent she was now eyeing him up. His present silence was a little unsettling for her, and unable to persevere with it any longer, she asked, "Is everything ok?"
Chuck snapped out of his daydream, regaining control of his person, and he met eyes with Sarah.
He soon coughed, then said, "Um-yeah." he coughed again. "Sorry, I was in a world of my own there. Everything is fine...great, actually! I was just caught in something for a while."
She smiled at him. "Ok. Thanks for breakfast. I loved it. The gesture was really nice."
He grinned. "Me too. So I guess that makes me a good cook, huh?"
She nodded, suppressing a brief chuckle.
"Great!" he said, his face shining with warmth as he stepped into Sarah and they shared a kiss. "Because there will be a lot more of that and I meant the breakfast in bed, but totally the kissing, too."
Sarah emitted a sweet giggle, the sound of her laughter adding a delightful melody to the moment, while Chuck's muted chuckle provided a harmonious accompaniment.
"We had an amazing night," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with happiness, her face filled with contentment.
He matched her gaze, nodding. "Yeah, baby, we did."
Sarah let out another giggle, as sweet and melodic as a songbird's melody.
Chuck couldn't help but suppress another laugh, her actions enticing and charming him towards her.
Once they moved on from the moment, Chuck looked at his watch, then said, "It's already after eleven. I have to leave soon to meet up with Cole and prepare everything for the barbecue."
Sarah nodded in understanding.
"What will you do?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said, then pondered the question more deeply, her mind straining itself to come up with something.
Meeting his eyes again, she said, "I can't think of anything to do."
"You could come with me to Cole and Sophie's and then stay behind with her for a while. It's her day off," he suggested.
Sarah turned fidgety. "I don't know, Chuck. I can't just turn up unannounced... She probably wouldn't like it."
"Nonsense, beautiful," he said with a confident grin. "She will be thrilled and love you for doing it."
Sarah remained uneasy.
Seeing her indecisiveness, Chuck continued, "Trust me. But if it's really what's stopping you, I can phone ahead now and ask if it's ok if you can come over?"
Sarah nodded, feeling better about the situation under those circumstances.
Chuck nodded in confirmation, giving way to the briefest of muted laughter, then took out his phone to ring Cole ahead of their visit.
End of Chapter
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So then, gang. Chuck is in love. I wonder how long it will take for Sarah to reach the same place? Also, how long it will take for Chuck to verbalise that love to Sarah, too? I have no intention of spoiling either of those, so all you can do is keep reading. I know I said one more chapter of relaxing for the team, but I saw the perfect moment finally arrive for Chuck to fall in love. I also expect a very busy weekend ahead of me and I'm not sure when I could next post, so the next chapter will be the barbecue instead. Tune in next chapter, for the barbecue and more!
FOOTNOTES: I hope you enjoyed the chapter today. Please leave a review (even if brief). Your thoughts keep me going. I love to read them.