Page 103 of Her Marine
Killian nodded. “Is there anything else, Commander?”
“Dismissed.”
Killian stood, saluting his superior before leaving the office. Being offered early retirement was not what he'd expected to come from his briefing with Fields. He had been expecting him to offer honorary discharge or continued service. He'd offered it to him the last time he'd been injured and hospitalized. Killian knew the answer in that situation, but having the option to retire early gave him pause.
Killian walked through his front door two hours later after visiting Collins. He hung his keys on the hook and followed the sweet aroma that filtered from the kitchen. He found Journee at the sink, humming and swaying her hips as she washed some dishes. He walked behind her and placed his hand on her hips.
“Hey, baby,” she greeted, looking over her shoulder.
Killian dropped a kiss onto her lips. “Hey. What are you making?”
“I'm baking cookies,” she responded, continuing to rinse the washed dishes.
“Can I have a cookie?”
“When they're finished baking.”
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “The one I want doesn't need to bake.”
“Okay,” Journee replied, and Killian had fully been prepared for her to protest. He reached around her, turned the water off in the sink, wrapped one of his arms around her waist, and pulled her back. “Just as soon as the doctor releases you,” she added, turning the water back on.
“I'm going to remember that,” Killian informed, and he released her before smacking her ass with his right hand, and Journee giggled.
Killian walked over and sat on one of the barstools. He pulled his phone from his back pocket and placed it on the bar.
“Your mom called while you were gone. She wants you to call her.”
“I saw. I figured she would call you since I didn't answer.”
“And why didn't you answer?” Journee asked, putting the last dish in the drainer, and turning the water off.
“Because aside from having to go talk to Fields and making a pit stop to see Collins, I have no intention of giving anyone else my time aside from you for a few more days. I meant it when I said I was going to be selfish.”
Journee turned to look at him as she leaned against the counter. “You know she's just worried, and you can't blame her for that. She knows you're stubborn and probably trying to do things you shouldn't.”
The only thing Killian was trying to do that he shouldn't have been was her. So far, he'd stayed within the parameters of what his doctor approved because he'd told her he would. He did not want to worry her by putting himself through more than he was ready to, even if he knew his body well and could do more without any strain on himself.
He hadn't, and he wouldn't because he had no intention of going back on his word to her. However, that didn't mean he couldn't try to tempt her occasionally. Killian enjoyed the war within her when she had to stand firm in turning him down. Her turning him down also meant more fuel to his building fire for when he finally could.
“Besides, answering her calls isn't going to take away from the time I'm spending with you. So, call her back, Killian.”
He refrained from smirking at her. She'd gotten unusually bossy with him recently. It wasn't as if he didn't know why, and he liked it.
“I will.”
Journee nodded. “Good. How was Collins when you went to see him?”
“Depressed,” Killian responded with a sigh. “But I can't blame him. Any of us in his position would be. He's no longer able to do what he was most proud of, which is to serve his country. Not to mention him being as young as he is and his career ending early.”
“How old is he?”
“He'll be twenty-six this month on the seventh.” As he said it, Killian realized that it was the upcoming Sunday. He made a mental note to pay him another visit.
“That's the same day I fly out, but I see how that could upset him.”
He knew she was leaving Sunday, which was one of the reasons he didn't want anyone else encroaching on his time with her. She had an event she needed to finish planning, and she would be celebrating her grandmother's birthday while she was gone. It would give his mother almost two uninterrupted weeks to smother him, and he planned on letting her then, which was why he figured she could wait a bit.
“Regardless of that, he's happy to be alive, and while he can't serve active duty anymore, he can do so many other things. There are centers for veterans and those in the same position as him that he can work at. He may even be able to sign up for recruitment duty.”
