Wishful Kisses: A Fountain of Love Novella (8 page)

I turned onto the road leading to the gate. I put on a pair of hot pink Ray-Ban sunglasses, the sun still shining mercilessly down on the state of Texas. I felt silly wearing the '90s fashions and dressing like I was going to a dance party. Unfortunately, all the clothes I had were what was in style.

A Janet Jackson song ended, and a news report came over the radio. The announcer updated the world on the situation occurring in Kuwait. The poor announcer could barely say the names correctly. If only they knew how common the names of Saddam Hussein, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, and so many others would become.

I pulled the car up to a waiting area near the gate. I was fifteen minutes early, but as I pulled up I could see Tony leaning against the wall in the shade. He was already there. Waiting. That had to be a good sign, right?

I took a deep breath as he walked toward the car. I unlocked it and felt the summer heat fight the air conditioner as he slid into the passenger seat and took off his hat. My mouth was dry and my tongue sticky. The butterflies in my stomach were doing a circus act.

"You're early," I said, grateful my voice didn't crack with nervousness.

"How did you know what was going to happen?" Tony asked. His brown eyes searched my face, trying to figure out if I was crazy or really from the future.

"I told you," I answered gently. "I've been to the future."

He scrubbed his short dark hair with his hand, letting out a deep breath. I knew I had rattled him and I felt badly about it, but I hoped that he would understand. I hoped that he believed me. That this was enough to convince him. I prayed I had done enough to save him.

"There's no way you could have known the things you told me," he said, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than me. "The invasion... hell, just the name of the operation is top secret right now. I'm not even really supposed to know it, but you just say it like it's common knowledge."

"Where—or rather when I'm from, it is." I chewed on my lip before I put my hand on his. "I made a wish in a fountain. I wished that I could come back and save you. Stop you from going. The Fountain granted my wish and sent me back to warn you."

His hand went through his hair again. I didn't envy his position. He had to decide to do something crazy. Something that would forever change both our worlds. To be honest, I was a little afraid of what was going to happen myself.

"Please don't go. I don't want to lose you again." My throat tightened at the words, as if it was trying to keep my heart from escaping out my mouth.

He paused, closing his eyes as he came to decision. My stomach was threatening to be sick. This was it.

Tony put his hand to my chin, tipping my face up to meet his eyes. He smiled, his eyes soft and comforting. "I believe you, Ladybug. It's kind of scary, but I believe you."

All the air in my lungs rushed out in a breath I didn't even know I was holding. A weight lifted from my shoulders and tears welled in my eyes from sheer relief. He believed me. And he called me Ladybug.

"What do we do now?" he asked. He smiled and wiped the tears from my cheek.

"We're about two and a half hours from the Mexico border. We run," I said simply. I couldn't have kept the smile off my face if someone had paid me. He believed me. We were going to be together.

Tony took a deep, shaky breath and twisted his hat in his hands. "That means I'll have to leave Dean and Matt. I'll be considered a deserter. Can't I just go with them and just not go to work that day? Be sick or something?"

I shook my head sadly. "No. The Fountain said that if you step foot in that country, your fate is sealed. You have to leave them."

He closed his eyes, debate clearly raging in his mind. I hoped my position was winning. "I hate the idea of leaving them."

"But you'll be alive," I countered gently. He opened his eyes as if the argument in his head was finally decided.

"And I'll be with you." He smiled and touched my cheek again. His brows tightened and he glanced out the window toward the base. "Will they be okay without me? I mean, if I'm not there, what's going to happen to them?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly. "They survive it the first time, though. I would imagine they will survive it again. They were injured mostly because they tried so hard to save you."

Tony looked out the window for another moment before turning back to me. He smiled, putting his faith in me completely. "Let's do this then. My bag's packed, I just need to go get it."

I frowned. "How are you going to leave an army base with your duffel bag when you're on high alert?"

He shrugged. "I think you met the gate guard yesterday. He talked about you at the poker game last night. He said I was a lucky guy, and I think he believed it. I believed it too. I was so lucky that I won $200 from him." He grinned at me again. "I gave it back to him to look the other way today."

I leaned over and kissed him. He was coming, and we were going to make it. As long as we made it to the Mexico border, he was safe.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you," I whispered as we pulled apart. I wanted to cry in relief. I wanted to stand on the roof of the car and whoop for joy. I was going to be with my Tony.

"Enough that you apparently traveled back in time to come get me," he said. His eyes met mine, warm and brown like a sunlit wooded glade. Like the picture I had been trying to paint. "You know I love you, right?"

I nodded, unable to find the words. Words were inadequate. I kissed him again, sending happiness straight down through my toes. He left me breathless and full of joy.

"I love you, too," I finally managed to whisper. He chuckled and kissed the tip of my nose.

"I'll be right back," he said, reaching for the car door. "Can I leave a note for them? I don't want anything to happen to Dean and Matt."

"I never really got the details. It was a top secret mission. You were supposed to guard someone important in January. No one would tell me anything else. I guess, just tell them to expect the worst on the missions in January." I shrugged. I had dug for more, but it was still classified top secret. Part of the pain of his death was not knowing anything about it.

He nodded gravely. "I love you," he said one last time before opening the door.

"I love you," I said as he stood up and closed the car door. I watched him walk back onto the base and leaned back in my chair to wait for his return.

***

T
he next ten minutes were the longest of my life. My brain went through every possible scenario as I waited for him to return.

He changed his mind. He was really just seeing if I had somehow gotten top secret info and is actually telling his commander. He ran into Dean and Matt, and they convinced him to stay. He fell and broke his leg walking in to get his stuff.

I almost drove the car to the gate at least five times before looking at my watch and telling myself that I just needed to give him time. Logically, I knew that he needed more than thirty seconds to walk to his room and gather his things, but every second that passed just made me more nervous. I was terrified that he was going to change his mind or get caught. We were so close to being together that every minute spent waiting was torture.

My foot tapped restlessly against the floor of the car until I finally saw him emerge from the gate. He had his green duffel-bag slung over his shoulder and a broad grin plastered across his face. I popped the trunk and he tossed his bag inside.

Tony opened the door and immediately kissed me. I could smell the heat of the sun on him from walking back and forth. It was like he brought heaven with him.

"I told them I was going to go spend some time with my girl," he said with a wink. "No one will look for me for at least a day."

"Then it's a good thing that we can get to the Mexican border in just a couple of hours," I replied and put the car in reverse.

"Then start driving, Ladybug." He leaned back in his chair, getting comfortable. He grinned at me. "I'm looking forward to some authentic tacos."

August 2, 1990

For the second time

––––––––

A
little over three hours later, I pulled the car into a small motel a few miles away from the Mexican border. We were safe. Tony was safe. I pulled out my wallet and carefully counted out the money we would need for the night.

"Well, I hate to tell you this, but I kind of wish I hadn't given the gate guard all his money back. What are we going to do for money?" Tony asked, watching me count the bills. A hint of worry crossed his face. "I don't exactly have a lot of marketable skills, and my Spanish is a little rusty."

I grinned. "I'm from the future remember?"

He frowned and I grinned wider.

"It will be tight for a little bit, but I know the big, upcoming sports upsets." I tucked my wallet back in my pocket. "With that money, my savings, and a small inheritance I will receive next year, we will invest in some companies. Apple and Microsoft for now, and then later on, Google and Amazon."

"Amazon and Google? What kind of businesses are those?" Tony asked, his eyebrows raised as we got out of the car. He stretched his arms up over his head, the talons of the eagle peeking out from under the plain civilian shirt he had changed into. It was the red shirt I had met him at in the bar. In fact, I was pretty sure it was the same entire outfit. It looked so damn good on him, I couldn't wait to get to the room.

"They're huge international companies that will make us billionaires. There's going to be something called the dot-com boom, and we are going to ride it like a money wave," I explained. "Plus, I have the benefit of knowing what companies are going to be successful as well as upcoming world events."

"You said
billionaires
, right?" Tony asked. "With a B?"

"Yup," I replied, laughing at the look on his face. "Definitely with a B. Gotta dream big, right?" I left him standing in the parking lot with his mouth hanging open as I went to go pay for our room.

I unlocked the door to our room and peered inside. It was small, but clean. It was a good place to start our future together on the run.

"Wait a second," Tony said, catching my arm before I could step into the room. "We might as well do this right."

I frowned slightly and then shrieked with delight as he picked me up into his arms and carried me over the threshold as if I were weightless.

"I thought that was just for newlyweds," I said as he closed the door, still holding me in his arms. He nuzzled my neck, his lips sending shivers of desire down my spine.

"I guess I'm just getting ahead of myself," he said quietly. "Would you marry me?" He pulled back and looked at me. His brown eyes were warm and full of want. Being held by him made my mouth water, and his question made my heart skip a beat.

"Yes!" I meant to shout it, but my voice came out as a whisper. It was all I had ever wanted since I met him. He was my perfect partner, my soul mate. "A million times yes!"

He chuckled and set me on the bed. With gentle fingers, Tony slid the strap of my shirt off my shoulder. I felt goosebumps cascade down my arm, the fires of desire starting to burn within me.

He chuckled and set me on the bed. I quickly kicked off my shoes and socks, tossing them across the room. Tony laughed and did the same. With gentle fingers, Tony slid the strap of my shirt off my shoulder. I felt goosebumps cascade down my arm, the fires of desire starting to burn within me. He nipped gently at my skin, kissing his way down the bare flesh of my arm.

With a surprising speed, he reached down and pulled the tank-top up and over my head. I shook my hair free, looking up at him. He stepped back, his pupils dilating as he took me in.

"You are so beautiful, Ladybug." His words were quiet, almost as if he had meant to think them but had spoken them instead. A rush of adrenaline went through me as he looked his fill. His entire expression was one of pure, raw desire.

I looked pointedly at his shirt, and he grinned. Taking the bottom hem in his fists, he twisted the red fabric up and over his head to reveal his torso. He was all hard planes and muscle. And it wasn't just his muscles that were hard. His jeans were nearly bursting with his excitement.

I licked my lips, wanting to taste his body. Everything about him was sexy and my body was calling out for his. Something deep inside of me was screaming to have him.

"Don't tease." Tony's voice was low and full of masculine need. It sent thrills through me.

"Who says I'm teasing?" I replied, slithering off the bed and onto my knees in front of him. My fingers traced the strong V-shape peeking out of the top of his jeans. His skin was smooth but the muscles taught and hard. I undid his belt buckle and slowly undid the the button and zipper. I took my time, letting the anticipation build.

He let out a low groan as I pulled his pants free. I caressed the bulge in his boxers, watching the muscles of his stomach tighten. He put his hands in my hair. I looked up as I slid the cotton boxers down. His eyes burned with desire as they watched my every move. I pushed his clothing down to his ankles and he kicked them to the side, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Now I've got to show you what else I learned in the future." I kissed the tip of his very impressive erection and grinned up at him. I slid one finger down the length of his shaft, making his low reply unintelligible.

I grabbed his hips and pushed him back onto the bed. He landed with an ungraceful bounce, but he propped himself up on his elbows. I relished the sight of him, waiting on the bed for me. Every muscle taut and ready. The fires deep in my core roared at the sight of him. I could look at his body all day. An impish grin settled on his face as he watched me bend down to take him.

I wrapped my fingers around the base of his silky length, sliding them up and down. With a delicate lick from base to tip, I tasted him. He groaned, throwing his head back and arching his hips to meet me. I did it again, this time stopping at the top to take him into my mouth. He shuddered and tangled his fingers in my hair, guiding me up and down. He hardened further in my mouth. I wanted him so badly, I could barely stand it.