Page 15 of Something Borrowed

ChapterSix

“This might bethe hardest time I’ve ever had saying goodbye,” Jaxon looked into her eyes and offered up a sad smile.

“After each time you left, I’d secretly wonder if the plan got where it was going safely, now I’m going to know for sure because you’re going to FaceTime me from the airport so I can see another country.” She grinned at him, even though it was the absolute last expression she felt like givinghim.

Two days had gone by too quickly. They’d spent much of it together – both learning new facets of each other in bed and out. There were faint traces of the conceited jock she’d been enamored with as a teen. Yet, those traces were so easily mitigated by the man that had come home for his sister’s wedding. He owned a home in Germany, near Böblingen, and he didn’t think he would sell even after his stationing there ended. There were no pets in his life, but he often went to shelters to donate supplies to make up for not having a job that allowed him to adopt a pet of his own. It was apparent in every curve of his body that he still held physical fitness in high regard, but he didn’t talk about how perfect he was any longer.

It wasn’t just that he’d grown up in terms of responsibilities though, it was his personality that held the big changes. While he could be playful, there was a serious side of him that thrilled her and a look of fear he had in his eyes when he woke from a nightmare that made her want nothing more than to hold him. He had seen horrors, and she suspected he had committed a share of his own, but she wouldn’t pry. They had agreed to look at the relationship as if they hadn’t known each other prior, taking things slowly and learning one another.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t help compare him with the boy he’d been. It was more than likely he was doing the same with her, but there was no way to be certain.

When he watched her, she felt special. He looked at her the way woman wanted to be looked at, like they were the only person in the room. There had been no cheesy commentary since the wedding, no useless remarks about her beauty, but his eyes told her he was thinking them. From the time they woke up, until the time they lay, snuggled together in bed, she couldn’t help but think she’d been waiting her whole life for someone like Jaxon to look at her the way hedid.

Yesterday, he’d gone to the station with her and she’d found the way he watched her exciting. His eyes had never left hers and by the time the newscast had finished, she’d been aching to have him touchher.

Everything was a new experience. She’d never been a prude, but Jaxon awakened a part of her that craved sex, particularly from him. Nothing existed when they touched, it was as if they were on a different plane of existence. A part of her knew it was simply because she’d dreamed about him for so long, but another part believed it was because they just fit together the way a couple was supposedto.

A couple,she thought with a mental snort. More like a few dates and in a week he will realize whatever this was is nothing more than a flirtation.

“What’s the matter?” he took her face in his hand, rubbing his thumb along her chin as his blue eyes stared into her hazelones.

“Just thinking.”

“Destructive thoughts if the look in your eyes is any indication.”

She smiled, and tilted her head to the left, lifting it out of his palm. “Were you always so observant?”

“Most likely not, but when you are the only thing between your partner and a bullet, you learn to have keen eyesight.”

“There’s so much that has changed.” The words slipped, unbidden and unneeded.

He gave a bark of a laugh and picked up his duffle, draping it across his body. “Well, hopefully you find this version of me as dream worthy as the bratty kid I used tobe.”

Twining her fingers with his in his free hand she leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I can promise you, I like adult you more than I could have imagined.”

He kissed her, deeper this time, and the sounds of the airport faded into nothingness. Focusing on the feel of his tongue as it grazed against hers sent a shiver through her, but she continued to think of nothing else. She wanted to memorize him, memorize this kiss, as a parting gift should her suspicions be correct.

The air conditioning seemed cold against her wet lips as he pulled away, reminding her once more that this might be the final kiss. “You’re serious about giving this a shot? About dating a woman thousands of miles away who can’t exactly pull random vacation hours.”

“As serious as you are about dating a Marine who lives in Germany.”

“American Airlines flight A106 to Stuttgart is now boarding zone one. All passengers in zone one please come to the gate begin boarding.”

“I didn’t realize we’d actually hear flight announcements out here – or that I’d kept you so long.” She glanced toward the rather short security line and knew it was time to really let him leave.

“I can’t think of a better reason to nearly miss it – but I do have to go.” He dropped his lips to hers, chastely, and smiled as he pulled away. “We will figure out a way to make this work, or at leasttry.”

He did the most romantic thing she could have ever imagined next, he walked backward to the security line. She had a feeling had she waved and turned to go, he would have continued right on looking at her. A mess of emotions played through her, tossing and turning like a ship in turbulent seas. On one hand, as she pushed open the door to leave MSY airport, all she could think about was how if they’d waited so long, there was no way they could fail. However, as she crossed the taxi lane to rush to short term parking, she knew that they were not going to make it work as a new couple in a long distance relationship, those factors just didn’t add up to success.

Sighing, she pulled her phone out of her bag when she felt it vibrate. Unsurprisingly, Kailey’s name flashed across the screen. Even on her honeymoon it was very like her best friend to remember small details. Blowing out a breath, she slid her finger over the screen to answer thecall.

“You are supposed to be enjoying the beaches ofMaui.”

“Well, I wouldn’t be a very good friend if I didn’t at least think about you right now.” Concern laced her friend’s words.

“You set an alarm for the time you thought he would be gone, didn’tyou?”

“Jim agreed it would be best. I mean, we’re kind of responsible for you two afterall.”

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