her, or cancel at the last minute; would she get angry? How she’d deal with my nightmares, or my constant need to make sure she was safe; would it drive her crazy, just like it had with every other girl I tried to date? I didn’t seem able to commit for a long period of time to anyone.
I’d seen her with guys before - I hated it - but knew that I hadn’t been in a position to claim her for my own, not yet. They were generally good guys, but I could see that she kept them at arm’s length emotionally. I even saw the frustration on their faces from time to time, when she would act so casually with them, like it really didn’t matter to her if they were still around or not. If she did that with me, I knew it would kill me.
Nolan had told me once, that after their dad’s death, when she was so young, she witnessed her mother’s emotional breakdown and started to shut herself off. We were already off to parts unknown by then, Nolan got leave and came home for the service, but he only stayed a week. He told me a few months ago that Aurora seemed to pull back into herself even more when their mom died. I could only imagine what would happen now that Nolan had left her, too.
Sure, her parents hadn’t left her voluntarily, but Nolan had. If he had been right, if Aurora pulled into herself beginning with her dad’s death, I could only imagine that it was to keep the pain at a distance. I wasn’t sure if she was afraid of feeling the same pain again, or if she was afraid of what her own mother had suffered, at the loss of such a great husband. Either way, now that Nolan was gone and with the dangers of my job, I wasn’t sure she’d be willing or even emotionally able to let me in.
One thing I vowed to myself, was that I wouldn’t be some pathetic fucker who chased a woman who didn’t want him. I would do all I could over the next week or so, then see where we were at. Hopefully by then, she would show some interest in being with me, more than physically. Yes, of course, I wanted to fuck her, but it was Rory, I wanted so much more than that.
Chapter 7
Aurora
Friday morning, I woke to the sounds of the coffee grinder and two dogs barking excitedly. Did they think they were getting coffee? I got up and staggered my way in and found Luke making coffee, thank god, and using his foot to push the tennis ball he’d found across the tiled floor for the dogs, who would then chase after it. Rusty always got the ball first, but then dropped it and Sadie picked it up and brought it back to Luke. The scene was such a domestic one, sweet and wonderful. If I’d have one wish, it would be mornings like this every day for the rest of my life.
Luke looked up at me as I walked further into the room and said “good morning, beautiful.” He’d stayed with me the past few nights, still in the guest bedroom. We’d kissed again several times and he’d become even more demonstrative. He had started to hold my hand any time we walked together, wrapped his arm around my shoulders or placed his hand on my thigh when we sat.
Yesterday, we’d gone to his house to grab more clothes, took the dogs to the park to tire them out and I enjoyed watching Luke work on commands with both of them. He was so good with them, firm but gentle too. Even Sadie, who usually only listened to me followed his every instruction. Fortunately, both dogs had been trained similarly, though I could see that Rusty was much more obedient than my willful Sadie.
We’d gone out to eat at Cattleman’s, our favorite local steak place, watched Thursday night football and had a couple of beers with the guys. Being the lightweight I was, the buzz hit me quick. Luke thought it was hysterical when I started to push on the tip of my nose with my finger because I told him that it was numb. Reed and Trent teased me incessantly and pushed shots my way. I only accepted one, thank God!
Luke and I talked all day; enjoyed each other and just spent time getting to know each
I’d seen her with guys before - I hated it - but knew that I hadn’t been in a position to claim her for my own, not yet. They were generally good guys, but I could see that she kept them at arm’s length emotionally. I even saw the frustration on their faces from time to time, when she would act so casually with them, like it really didn’t matter to her if they were still around or not. If she did that with me, I knew it would kill me.
Nolan had told me once, that after their dad’s death, when she was so young, she witnessed her mother’s emotional breakdown and started to shut herself off. We were already off to parts unknown by then, Nolan got leave and came home for the service, but he only stayed a week. He told me a few months ago that Aurora seemed to pull back into herself even more when their mom died. I could only imagine what would happen now that Nolan had left her, too.
Sure, her parents hadn’t left her voluntarily, but Nolan had. If he had been right, if Aurora pulled into herself beginning with her dad’s death, I could only imagine that it was to keep the pain at a distance. I wasn’t sure if she was afraid of feeling the same pain again, or if she was afraid of what her own mother had suffered, at the loss of such a great husband. Either way, now that Nolan was gone and with the dangers of my job, I wasn’t sure she’d be willing or even emotionally able to let me in.
One thing I vowed to myself, was that I wouldn’t be some pathetic fucker who chased a woman who didn’t want him. I would do all I could over the next week or so, then see where we were at. Hopefully by then, she would show some interest in being with me, more than physically. Yes, of course, I wanted to fuck her, but it was Rory, I wanted so much more than that.
Chapter 7
Aurora
Friday morning, I woke to the sounds of the coffee grinder and two dogs barking excitedly. Did they think they were getting coffee? I got up and staggered my way in and found Luke making coffee, thank god, and using his foot to push the tennis ball he’d found across the tiled floor for the dogs, who would then chase after it. Rusty always got the ball first, but then dropped it and Sadie picked it up and brought it back to Luke. The scene was such a domestic one, sweet and wonderful. If I’d have one wish, it would be mornings like this every day for the rest of my life.
Luke looked up at me as I walked further into the room and said “good morning, beautiful.” He’d stayed with me the past few nights, still in the guest bedroom. We’d kissed again several times and he’d become even more demonstrative. He had started to hold my hand any time we walked together, wrapped his arm around my shoulders or placed his hand on my thigh when we sat.
Yesterday, we’d gone to his house to grab more clothes, took the dogs to the park to tire them out and I enjoyed watching Luke work on commands with both of them. He was so good with them, firm but gentle too. Even Sadie, who usually only listened to me followed his every instruction. Fortunately, both dogs had been trained similarly, though I could see that Rusty was much more obedient than my willful Sadie.
We’d gone out to eat at Cattleman’s, our favorite local steak place, watched Thursday night football and had a couple of beers with the guys. Being the lightweight I was, the buzz hit me quick. Luke thought it was hysterical when I started to push on the tip of my nose with my finger because I told him that it was numb. Reed and Trent teased me incessantly and pushed shots my way. I only accepted one, thank God!
Luke and I talked all day; enjoyed each other and just spent time getting to know each
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