Page 22 of Blackstone's Heart
"These places aren't comfortable for you are they son?"
"No not really."
Louise nodded. "Understandable. However, you have nothing to be ashamed of for feeling that way." Ethan lifted a brow, causing the nurse to laugh. "Boy, I've been nursing at VA hospitals since you were in diapers. There is a lot of pain yes, but there's a brotherhood and sisterhood here too. All of these men and women form an exclusive family that not everyone can or wants to join, but there you have it."
Ethan understood where Louise was going with her speech. Maybe it was time he let the past go. He couldn’t save all of his squad that day, but he was still here. His guys were still here and he thanked God everyday they weren't on his squad that day. He looked up as Krista approached them. He was seeing her with fresh eyes, as if seeing her for the first time.
***
Krista removed the scrubs and other protective gear she had, but kept her wig pinned back. “PFC Fallows seemed in better spirits this trip.”
“Yes, he has made significant progress since you were here last month. I even hear him tell his mom to pick up one of your books for him. He’s nearly finished withSemper Fi.” Louise chuckled, leading the group down another hall.
Krista laughed. “Semper Fi, was a fun one to write. You know, Fallows kind of reminds me of the character Skip, you know the hero’s best friend.”
“Yes, I thought that myself when he came here.” Louise agreed.
As they walked into the activities room a chorus of hello’s came at Krista. She could feel the huge smile that she wore. Making her rounds around the room, she caught sight of Ethan sitting down at a table with two Marines in wheelchairs. The two men where a few years older than she and Ethan, and they had arrived her about six months ago.
***
Ethan looked around the room. A chess table caught his attention. He saw two men in wheelchairs playing. On both their wheelchairs were USMC stickers. Not knowing why, he made his way over, snagging a chair from a nearby table. “Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all son. I saw you come in with Kris. I’m Chris. This here is my gunner, Ryan.” Chris introduced.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ethan.” Ethan nodded shaking the men’s hands before sitting down.
“Were you in the service?” Ryan inquired as he moved his bishop.
“Yes sir, twelve years in the Corps.” Ethan replied.
“Ooh ra.” Chris grinned a little. “Ry and I were both in Motor T. More specifically EOD.” Chris said. “That’s how we ended up here. We were checking out a suspicious rode side device outside. Got maybe two steps away from the fucker when it went off.”
“Talk about a fucked up day at the office.” Ethan stated.
“Ain’t that the truth.” Ryan snorted. “When the serge here, and I woke up it was at the hospital in Germany. The docs there told us were banged up good, me more so. Three surgeries later and I got moved here. Had a metal rod put in, lots of steel pin in my hips and shit. About a week after I get here, I find out this SOB would be recovering here too.”
Ethan couldn’t help but laugh at the antics of the two friends. The two reminded him of the comradery of her and his men. Especially the way Chris flipped off Ryan. The longer Ethan sat there, the more relaxed her began feelings.
***
Ethan glanced over at the passenger seat of his truck where Krista sat. They had just dropped Jerry off and he was now taking Krista home. After their visit at the VA, Ethan had felt lighter than he had felt in a long time. He had enjoyed swapping boot-camp stories and combat tales with Chris and Ryan. Something he had never felt compelled to do before, but there you have it, he had. And it was all because of Krista. The obvious compassion and sense of ease she presented had sucked him in.
'Guess it’s now or never.'He thought as he pulled into her drive.
"Hmmmm, we there yet?" Krista moaned as she stretched.
"Home sweet home." Ethan grinned, then barely bit back a groan.
Her full breasts stretched beneath the t-shirt. As hot as he found her in the red dress, the shirt and jeans she had changed into after the hospital was even hotter. He felt his cock twitch and his mouth water as he imagined that they would still fit his hands perfectly. Were her nipples still overly sensitive if he sucked them? Would she whimper or would she now cry out for more? When his eyes lifted to hers, he saw something that made him even harder. Her blue eyes flashed in the fading sunlight.
"You're staring Blackstone."
"Yeah I am."
Shifting, she licked her lips and undid her seatbelt. Before she reached the handle, Ethan reached out and hauled her up against him, eliciting a gasp from her. His mouth came crashing down against hers. Plundering her mouth. His tongue sweeping over her teeth, her tongue, exploring her sweetness. He groaned as her fingers slid around his neck to run through his short hair.
He wanted more. More of her taste, more of her pressing against him. He nipped her bottom lip before his tongue soothed the sting. She purred into his mouth, moving to straddle him in the cramped space. It was Krista who deepened the kiss. He hissed when she bit his lower lips before sucking on it.
