My Soldier: A Miliatary Romance (12 page)

I always knew life was unpredictable, I just never had it thrown in my face like that.

When you're a kid you think you're unstoppable, that nothing bad will ever happen to you, or anyone you love.

Not in your world, no it couldn't possibly happen to you.

But it can, and for me...

It changed everything.

Levi

A
vni had sent me away, she said I was wrong about how she felt. But I knew the truth, I knew what she was feeling.

I wasn't wrong, I could see it, she had it painted all over her body. Her thighs had separated, her chest was rising and falling with wanton need.

The sparkle in her eye was a burst that reflected all the hints of color that made up her brown gaze. I watched the tints of orange, the deep yellows, the splashes of gold, all under veiled lids as she tried to regain control of her body.

And why? Because I was seeping into her, every piece of her was screaming to let me in. But I couldn't understand why she was so resistant, what was holding her back from letting me take her.

Was it all because I was a soldier? It just didn't make sense.

The kiss we had, the passion that streamed to life when our lips touched, it sent a surge through my cock. I was hard the instant her soft skin pressed against mine, and I ached to feel how warm her pussy was when it pulled me in.

Kicking a flattened can across the sidewalk, I drove my hands into my pockets. I was determined to figure her out, and once I did...

Avni was going to be devoured.

I wanted nothing more than to feel all of her, feel her lips wrap around my thick shaft.

In my head I saw myself tracing my fingers across her stomach, watching her shiver and shake as I made my way down to her pussy. I would dip my fingers inside slowly, tease her till she was screaming for me to fuck her.

The quiet of the street had taken me by surprise. I had just been listening to the rampaging sound of a power drill hitting pavement.

Now, all I could hear was the soft hum of wind whispering in my ears.

Looking around, I noticed I'd wandered off course. I had been heading home, but in the end I had walked well past where my place was. Glancing at my phone, I realized I had been walking for over an hour.

There was a large sign ahead, an old green brass sign that read Glenwood. The words were scripted across the top in an arch, the walls holding up the large metal structure were breaking away at the corners.

And off in the distance I heard screaming, a loud screeching yell that was hitting my eardrums.

But it didn't sound like a distressed call, it sounded angry, and harsh. Not the type of sound I expected to hear radiating from inside those walls.

Curiosity had stretched around my insides, I had to see what the hell was going on in there.

The pitch of the voice was rattling off in an echo, getting higher, then lower. The tone floated over the wind, following the swirls of the breeze up around the trees as they blew side to side.

What the hell is going on? Why are they yelling like that?

Stepping through the gate, I followed the path towards the voice. Straining to hear the words that made up the sound, I was able to piece together some of what was being said.

'How could you?! You left us and left me! You're an asshole!'

Slowing my pace, I crept down the beaten path, still taking in the anger behind the voice.

'We needed you, we all needed you! But you had to go, had to go and put yourself in that situation! And you left me with this? I haven't told Mom or Dad, I can't. They think you're a fucking saint, a true hero.'

Rounding the corner, I stopped short. The woman's back was facing me, but I knew instantly who it was...

Avni.

Who is she talking to? Why is she here yelling at the top of her lungs in a cemetery?

Her head was hanging down, arms fitted to her hips. Her legs were twitching, one foot would lift up and come down, then the other repeated the same motion.

She looked like a child throwing a temper tantrum, stomping her feet in a rage. T was sitting by her side, ears lifted, head cocked up just watching her.

Avni's voice turned to a soft plea, a delicate strain for forgiveness. “I'm sorry, I'm just really pissed. This shit sucks, Kev. And I don't know what the fuck to do. I wish I could just see you one more time, or hear you what you have to say.”

Her shoulders slumped forward, neck curving lower to her chest. “I know you did the right thing, I don't want you to think I don't. But it just sucks, I never saw this coming. And I guess I should have.”

Stepping closer, the small break of a branch snapped under my foot. Her tiny protector jumped a mile, whipping around and growling briefly.

Avni spun on one foot, her hair spreading across her face, blocking her view for a moment. Throwing her hands up to swipe the strands away, her eyes grew to the size of the sun.

She looked shocked, angry, sad; a mix of so many different emotions had swept her face.

“Hey,” I said awkwardly. I wasn't sure what to say exactly, and she definitely didn't expect to see me there.

Digging a hand deeper into my pocket, the other flew up cupping the back of my neck.

“Are you following me now?” The question pushed off her tongue with force, brows knitted in a frown. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“No, no I'm not. I was walking by, and I heard yelling. I didn't know it was you, not until I came around the corner.” Stepping in, I anchored her attention. “Are you alright?”

“I'm fine.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she tucked her hands in deep. “Can you please go now?”

“Are you sure? Who are you yelling at?” Leaning in over her shoulder, I looked towards the ground.

A small square headstone was laid behind her, a bright bushel of blue flowers were spread across the grass in front. My eyes flicked across the name set deep into the stone.

Kevin Boyd:

January twenty-first, nineteen ninety-three to March thirteenth, two-thousand fifteen.

Beloved son, brother, and soldier.

“Love conquers all, and all conquers life.”

My muscles tensed, heart leaping into my gut.
No, there's no way.

Searching the depths of her face, Avni bit at her thumbnail. Her eyes were shining like glass, holding back the tears I knew had been streaming before.

I could see the streaks through her makeup, the small trails had created thin river shaped stencils over her skin. Each one swept in a different direction, rolling over her cheeks and breaking off at her chin.

“I was yelling at my brother, his name was Kevin.”

“I'm sorry, I had no idea.” Dragging my fingers through my hair, I tugged it tight against my skull. “Honestly, after everything you said about Vito, I thought your brother was locked up.”

Tell her. Tell her.

No. Not now.

Shaking her head no, Avni's eyes darted over the light gray stone. “No, not jail. He...” Inhaling a large breath of air, she exhaled hard in one large whoosh. “He was a soldier, just like you.”

“What happened?” Holding my hand up, it bounced in the air. “I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Forget I asked.”

“No, it's okay.” Her hands fell to rest on her lower back, hips swaying nervously. “Kevin was on active duty, stationed in Afghanistan. He was doing a patrol with a few other guys from his section and well...” Pausing, she tugged at her bottom lip. “They hit an IED, and he didn't make it.” A soft tear escaped her lid, cresting the edge and riding over her cheek. Wiping it away, Avni rubbed her palm against her thigh. “We were twins, losing him has been really tough on me.”

Suddenly, it all started to make sense. Her refusal to let me in, her stiff emotions when she found out I was a soldier.

It was all sinking in, everything she had said, how she had acted. “So this is why, this is why you were so upset over me being a soldier?”

I wanted to grab her, cradle her in my arms. Say anything and everything I could to make her pain disappear.

Her lips turned down, pulling tight against her face. “Yes. I know what happens, and I know how much it hurts.”

“Avni, just because your brother—”

“Stop, just stop.” Flipping her hand up, her eyes shot towards the sky. “I don't want to get into this.”

Sliding my hand over my jaw, I gripped my chin. “You can't close yourself off because you lost someone you love.”

“No? Why not?” Avni's back snapped straight, arms hanging tight by her side. “Who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do?”

“I'm someone who knows what you're feeling, I understand what you've been through.”

“Just because you think you understand doesn't mean you actually do. I know you probably lost some brothers out there, Kevin had too. But that's not the same, when it's your flesh and blood it's different.”

My lip curled down at the corner of my mouth, looking at her in disbelief, I said, “Come with me.”

“What? No.” Her nostrils flared, eyes narrowing to crinkled slits.

“Just come with me, I have something to show you.” Holding my hand out, I lightly gripped her fingers. “Please, I think you'll understand me better. And maybe even yourself too.”

Tugging at her lower lip with her teeth, Avni's eyes shifted between the ground and my face. “Levi, I don't think—”

“Avni, just let me show you. Trust me this one time.”

Nodding her head with a reluctant 'yes,' her fingers twined inside mine. “Alright, alright.” Her voice was as soft as the sound of the flowers blowing around us.

I knew that if she would just let me bring her into my world, she'd be able to see I knew exactly what she was feeling. Our lives weren't that different, we just dealt with death very differently.

Avni wanted to shelter herself from it, keep the world out so that pain wouldn't be able to get in.

I embraced death, living everyday like it was going to be my last.

And I wanted to show her what she was missing, what she could have, and what she was keeping at arms length.

Being in the Army was the hardest thing I'd ever done with my life, but it also brought me the most pride. My life had meaning, I had a purpose.

And right here, right now, Avni was my purpose. We were brought together for a reason, and I believed that.

In my world, nothing happened without a reason.

Everything had a purpose.

For me to keep going, I had to believe that.

And I believed in it more than ever right then.

***

T
he walk to my house was quiet and solemn. She wouldn't talk, only stepping a foot in front of me to keep her distance.

Her slender fingers coiled around T's leash to pull him tight as we stepped up the stairs to my door.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my keys. “I think this might help you.”

“Oh yeah, you think what you have behind that door can help me?” Rolling her eyes, she let her head fall back. “We'll see about that.”

A smile cracked across my cheek, reaching to my ear. “You're going to eat those words.” Chuckling, I popped the heavy wood open. “Come on in.”

Avni stepped awkwardly into my living room. She was holding her sides, glancing around at the room. “Is T alright in here? You don't mind?” Nodding that it was fine, she walked over to the armchair, fingers gliding across the top. “Cute place,” she said, draping a single finger over the lampshade and circling the thin edge.

“Thanks, I like it.” Closing the door, I threw my keys onto the end table.

“I'm surprised it's so clean. I would've thought you'd lived like your typical bachelor.” Working her way around to a tall cabinet stuffed in the corner, she leaned in to look inside.

“Typical bachelor?” I asked, raising a thin brow.

“Yeah, you know. Dirty, beer cans littering the floor, clothes everywhere like your laundry basket threw up; bachelor pad.” Her mouth tugged up a hair, curving to meet her high cheek bones.

There's a little smile. I love seeing that smile.

“Nope, not me. I've been trained to keep a tidy home. The Army, they even get you when you're not on duty.” Laughing, I walked across the carpet towards her.

Standing behind her, Avni's face was fixed inside the old mahogany cabinet I inherited years ago from my grandfather.

There were two large glass panes with silver curved handles that met in the middle. The moldings had intricate carvings that were burned into the hard wood.

The shelves inside were filled with his old war memorabilia. The flag the Navy handed my grandmother the day he died was folded up, securely displayed on the center shelf. The bullet casings from the salute were laid out in front of the flag.

“Is this what you wanted to show me?” she asked, turning her head over her shoulder to look at me.

“It's one of the things.” Placing my hand on her shoulder, I hovered over her neck. She still smelled just as amazing, even with her mid-day sun fit at the cemetery.

The streaks from crying were still visible on her skin, and for some reason I had the urge to taste her flesh. I wanted to run my tongue over her neck, find out if she tasted as sweet as she smelled.

Inhaling a soft deep breath, I let that image linger in my mind. My tongue, her throat, the intoxicating scent wafting up into my senses; it was making me painfully hard.

“One of the things?”

“See that picture right there? The black and white one?”

Shaking her head 'yes,' she leaned in closer to the glass. “Who's that?”

“That's my grandfather, he was in the Navy. And the stories he had for me as a kid...” A light laugh hit my throat, escaping over her neck. I watched the prickles shoot up, breaking across her skin. And my body shivered with her reaction. “Well they were interesting and colorful to say the least.”

Giggling, she said, “I bet.” Moving her eyes around the many different military items, she lifted her finger to point at another photo. “Who's that?”

“That's the other thing I wanted to show you. That's my father, Nicholas Hite, First Lieutenant of the Marine Corps.”

“Wow, so you're a family of military men. That's amazing.”