Sergeant.”
“Well, whenever you have to report, let me know, and I will send you along with some, and you can let the bear claws speak for you.”
“Hell no. I refuse to share.”
“Goodbye six pack, and hello suitcase.” Christina tapped my still-firm abdomen. My definition was fading, but the muscle memory was still very much present. She suddenly tensed up and backed away with her head down. I rubbed my belly and stepped back into her space.
“I’m fluffy now. It’s okay; I’m enjoying the treats. It’s been a long time since I have had home cooked sweets. The kosher Oreos and stale Girl Scout cookies we get drop shipped to us are awful by the time we get them. This is the life.” Rubbing my distended belly again, Christina looked up at me through her long, curled eyelashes.
“You have a little …” She reached up slowly and perched up on her tippy toes to reach the corner of my mouth with her hand to wipe away a strand of caramel with her thumb. I grabbed her wrist and stuck her thumb in my mouth sucking the remnant caramel off.
“I was saving that.” Her jaw laid open and slack while her eyes were wild, wide, and transfixed on my mouth. “Christina.”
She merely squeaked and retracted her hand from my grasp. Shaking her head out of her self-induced trance, she looked at her hand and quickly wiped it on her pants.
“Ew, ew, ew … Lord knows where your mouth has been.” Miss Sassy had returned. For a split moment, I thought I saw a softer side so I took the plunge. Wrapping my arms around her small waist, I lifted her up to meet me face to face. Her small rigid frame pressed against mine and before she could react, my lips engulfed hers, my tongue darting out seeking entrance into her sweet cavernous mouth. She sighed into my mouth giving me the entrance I sought. Remnants of salted caramel, rich dark chocolate, and sweet confectioners’ sugar scorched her taste into my brain. I lapped at her inner cheeks seeking every sweet corner. When the sweet taste faded, I kissed the corners of her mouth gently in completion and lowered her limp body to her feet.
Her eyes fluttered open with awakening, and her hands flew to her mouth. Redness flushed her cheeks as they drew up past her fingers, revealing the smile beneath her small palms.
“I guess you liked the bear claws,” she squeaked out through her fingers.
“Very much so. Thank you.”
“You're welcome, and thank you too.”
She stood there staring at me for a minute before grabbing her purse and scurrying off.
“See ya later. Tell Beth I will call her later.”
Peter -1 Christina -0. She is all bark and no bite.
I sat on the couch and polished off the rest of those bear claws while catching up on episode after episode of American Idol and Big Bang Theory . I toggled back and forth every hour or so between the two practicing my Al Bundy stance. In between laugh tracks, geek humor, and musical selections, my mind kept drifting back to Christina.
I didn't want Christina to be scared of me.
I kept trying to replay that night at my sister’s apartment back in my head over and over trying to find the trigger. I couldn’t find one. I had slept with my platoon and my weapon by my side and under my pillow for the last eighteen years. That was the first time I was unarmed at any time. That was the first time I had been asleep in a room with anyone other than one of my brothers in arms.
Most nights, I didn't remember the nightmares. The only evidence would be my twisted sheets, waking up armed at the ready in my underwear or one of the guys throwing something at me to shut up. I didn't know if they ever stopped, but the thought of someone getting hurt by being around me sleeping scared me.
My weapon was locked up and secure in the bottom of my closet. My knives were tucked away in a drawer. That didn't stop me from hurting Christina. My hands were just as lethal. I just needed to stay awake and be careful and no one would get hurt.
“Well, whenever you have to report, let me know, and I will send you along with some, and you can let the bear claws speak for you.”
“Hell no. I refuse to share.”
“Goodbye six pack, and hello suitcase.” Christina tapped my still-firm abdomen. My definition was fading, but the muscle memory was still very much present. She suddenly tensed up and backed away with her head down. I rubbed my belly and stepped back into her space.
“I’m fluffy now. It’s okay; I’m enjoying the treats. It’s been a long time since I have had home cooked sweets. The kosher Oreos and stale Girl Scout cookies we get drop shipped to us are awful by the time we get them. This is the life.” Rubbing my distended belly again, Christina looked up at me through her long, curled eyelashes.
“You have a little …” She reached up slowly and perched up on her tippy toes to reach the corner of my mouth with her hand to wipe away a strand of caramel with her thumb. I grabbed her wrist and stuck her thumb in my mouth sucking the remnant caramel off.
“I was saving that.” Her jaw laid open and slack while her eyes were wild, wide, and transfixed on my mouth. “Christina.”
She merely squeaked and retracted her hand from my grasp. Shaking her head out of her self-induced trance, she looked at her hand and quickly wiped it on her pants.
“Ew, ew, ew … Lord knows where your mouth has been.” Miss Sassy had returned. For a split moment, I thought I saw a softer side so I took the plunge. Wrapping my arms around her small waist, I lifted her up to meet me face to face. Her small rigid frame pressed against mine and before she could react, my lips engulfed hers, my tongue darting out seeking entrance into her sweet cavernous mouth. She sighed into my mouth giving me the entrance I sought. Remnants of salted caramel, rich dark chocolate, and sweet confectioners’ sugar scorched her taste into my brain. I lapped at her inner cheeks seeking every sweet corner. When the sweet taste faded, I kissed the corners of her mouth gently in completion and lowered her limp body to her feet.
Her eyes fluttered open with awakening, and her hands flew to her mouth. Redness flushed her cheeks as they drew up past her fingers, revealing the smile beneath her small palms.
“I guess you liked the bear claws,” she squeaked out through her fingers.
“Very much so. Thank you.”
“You're welcome, and thank you too.”
She stood there staring at me for a minute before grabbing her purse and scurrying off.
“See ya later. Tell Beth I will call her later.”
Peter -1 Christina -0. She is all bark and no bite.
I sat on the couch and polished off the rest of those bear claws while catching up on episode after episode of American Idol and Big Bang Theory . I toggled back and forth every hour or so between the two practicing my Al Bundy stance. In between laugh tracks, geek humor, and musical selections, my mind kept drifting back to Christina.
I didn't want Christina to be scared of me.
I kept trying to replay that night at my sister’s apartment back in my head over and over trying to find the trigger. I couldn’t find one. I had slept with my platoon and my weapon by my side and under my pillow for the last eighteen years. That was the first time I was unarmed at any time. That was the first time I had been asleep in a room with anyone other than one of my brothers in arms.
Most nights, I didn't remember the nightmares. The only evidence would be my twisted sheets, waking up armed at the ready in my underwear or one of the guys throwing something at me to shut up. I didn't know if they ever stopped, but the thought of someone getting hurt by being around me sleeping scared me.
My weapon was locked up and secure in the bottom of my closet. My knives were tucked away in a drawer. That didn't stop me from hurting Christina. My hands were just as lethal. I just needed to stay awake and be careful and no one would get hurt.
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