Unconditional Love

“You’d have to tell your family you were discharged from the Marine Corps. Medically, as far as they need to know.”

  “I don’t want to leave the Marine Corps, sir. It’s my life,” I said as I began to feel the anger build up inside of me. Being in the Marines had helped me forget about Nikki. I loved the Marines.

  “Listen to me for a minute, Lieutenant, before you keep interrupting me. You would still be in the Marines. You would just be telling your family and friends you’re not. You’d be living in Austin, Texas because I’m based out of there. I like the night life there,” he said with a wink. “When we have a mission I call you, you get all the shit ready, and we head out. Some missions only take a couple days, some a few weeks, some a few months. You finish your mission and come back to Austin and resume your normal life appearance.”

  I leaned back and took it all in. “What type of missions?”

  The smile that spread across his face almost gave me chills. “The secret kind, son.”

  I sat there for a good two minutes not saying a word. “So let me see if I have this right, sir. You want me to tell my family and friends I’ve gotten hurt and will be medically discharged from the Marines, but actually I’ll still be in the Marines but assigned under you at the CIA? I’ll move to Austin, appear to live a normal life, but when you call, which I’m guessing could be at any given moment, I would be heading out on a secret mission? Is it dangerous?”

  “Yes son, it is. I’m asking you to be dropped off in remote locations with a partner, or sometimes alone.”

  “What would I be doing, sir?” I asked, and he let out a laugh.

  “What you do best, son. Shoot.”

  I already knew what was next, so why I asked I had no idea.

  “Shoot what, sir?”

  He stood up and looked down at me. “The enemy.”

  The element of danger rushed through my veins. This is what I lived for. Putting myself out there on the edge. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours to think about it.”

  I stood up and said, “I don’t need twenty-four hours. I’ll do it, sir.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. As he looked back at me he shook his head. “I knew you were the perfect guy for this. No commitments, no fucking woman to hold you down or mess with your head. The perfect shot. You’re a dream come true for me.”

  As he put his arm around me and led me out of the room, he said, “Lark Williams, your whole life is about to change.”

  I opened my eyes when I felt her hands run down my back. I slowly turned around and looked into her eyes. I had to suck in a breath as she looked at me with nothing but passion in her eyes.

  “I missed your touch,” she whispered.

  Recuerde guardar mi corazón. I have to remember to guard my heart. I can’t let her in.

  I pulled her to me and lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around me. I turned and pushed her against the cold tile shower and brought her down onto my rock-hard dick. This girl was going to drive me insane.

  She moved her hips in perfect rhythm with me and before long we were both whispering each other’s names as I poured myself into her for the third time tonight. The feeling of being without a condom made it all the more incredible.

  I slowly set her down and reached for the washcloth and soap, and then began cleaning her body. When I cleaned between her legs I slowly massaged her clit, causing her to call out in another orgasm. I glanced up to see her smiling down at me. I closed my eyes and pushed the feelings I had deep down inside.

  When I stood up, she was about to do the same for me, but I turned the shower off. I saw the hurt move across her face and I hated myself but there was no way I could let her touch me like that. I would never let her do what all the other women have done to me. Thinking of Azurdee getting me off or giving me a blow job about turned my stomach.

  I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist as I took another towel and wrapped it around her. I was about to start drying her off when she smiled and quickly began drying herself off. I had to admit it hurt like hell, but I knew she was only doing what I had just done to her by not allowing her to take care of me.

  She yawned and I couldn’t help but smile. She was so damn beautiful and looked adorable trying to hide her yawn. I walked up to her and picked her up.

  “Come on mi amor, let’s get some sleep.”

  She settled her head into my chest and let out a small contented sigh. I knew she had to be exhausted, not to mention sore as shit.

  I walked up to my bed and gently set her down. I pulled the sheets back and watched as she dropped her towel and climbed into the bed. I followed her and as I lay down I pulled her close to me. I needed to feel her against me for some reason. I had a feeling our night was going to come to an end sooner than I wanted.

  I listened to her breathing settle out and knew the moment she had fallen into a deep sleep when her entire body relaxed into mine. I wasn’t sure how long I lay there taking in the fact that I had the most amazing and beautiful girl in my arms. And it had been the first time I’d slept in a bed with another girl since Nikki.

  As I drifted off to sleep, I began dreaming of Azurdee and me walking along a beach holding hands. We both turned and looked at each other and I was overcome with how much I was in love with her.

  I quickly sat up and tried to control my breathing. I looked over at Azurdee, who was fast asleep. I quickly pushed my dream aside. There was no way I was in love with her. None.

  I was about to lie back down when my phone went off. I reached for it and looked at Skip’s message.

  Skip: Heading to Venezuela. Get back to Austin ASAP, Lieutenant.

  I quickly typed back.

  Me: Leaving in twenty.

  I set my cell down and turned to look at my sleeping beauty. Mi amor. I couldn’t bear the thought of calling her sweetheart. That’s what I called the girls I hooked up with so I wouldn’t have to remember their names.

  I slowly got up and cursed myself for bringing her to my bed. I grabbed my bag and pushed everything into it as I slipped on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I grabbed my phone and put it in my pocket. I looked down at Azurdee and smiled. I dropped my bag and headed out of the room, but not before I went into her room and grabbed her sheets and carried them down to the laundry room. I quickly put them in the wash and started it as I made my way out back and over to the garden. I walked up to a rose bush and broke off a rose. I brought it up to my nose and took in a long deep smell. I wasn’t sure why red roses reminded me of Azurdee, but they did.

  I made my way back into the house and up to my room. I leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips. She barely smiled and whispered, “Lark.”

  I pulled away quickly and set the rose down on my pillow. I picked up the pen and pad of paper on the end table and wrote her out a note.

  I slipped it under the rose and looked at her one more time. A feeling I’d never experienced before washed over my body. My hands began shaking and I quickly turned and walked away as I pushed the feeling away and started thinking about what I had to do to get ready for the mission.

  I slowly opened my eyes to see the bedroom was filled with daylight. I stretched and smiled as I felt muscles ache that I didn’t even know I had. I closed my eyes and thought back to last night.

  Lark had made love to me.

  As I moved my legs I could feel how sore I was. Oh shit. I instantly worried I wouldn’t be able to do anything today with Lark, and that caused my stomach to drop. I sat up and looked to my right. The bed was empty and my heart began pounding in my chest. I looked and saw the rose on the pillow with a note under it.

  I picked up the rose and smelled it as I let a smile play across my face. I reached for the note and opened it.

  I held the note to my chest and let out a sigh. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. The moment I walked I felt it. Oh yeah, Lark had nothing to worry about. Every step I took I would think of him. I giggled as I made my way to the bathroom.


  After taking a quick shower, I headed to my bedroom. I was walking on air I was so happy. Even though Lark had to leave I was filled with a sense of excitement. I stopped when I walked into the bedroom and saw he had taken the sheets off my bed. I smiled and shook my head.

  I quickly threw on some yoga pants and a T-shirt. I made my way over to my purse and grabbed my cell phone. I couldn’t wait to text Jessie and tell her I had finally done it.

  I swiped my finger and saw I had three text messages. Two from Jess and one from…Lark. My heart did a silly little flutter as I opened his text.

  Lark: Good morning, beautiful. I hope that you aren’t too sore this morning. I should be back in four days, five at the most. Last night was amazing, Azurdee. Thank you for giving me such a special gift.

  I smiled as I wrote back.

  Me: Good morning. I missed you this morning, but honestly if you had been here I think I’d be even more sore than I am right now. It’s the most amazing sore I’ve ever experienced though. Please be safe. See you when you get back.

  Then I opened Jessie’s messages.

  Jessie: Hey girl! So I’m dying to know…after the way Lark was looking at you all afternoon, I have to know. Did it happen finally?

  Jessie: Bitch. Why are you ignoring me?

  I grinned as I hit reply.

  Me: You’re on your honeymoon. Why are you texting me? Shouldn’t you be having hot sex right now on the beach?

  Jessie: Hot sex in the ocean baby…and let me tell you it was H.O.T. Anyway, Scott fell asleep so I’m sitting by the pool. Call me!

  I hit Jessie’s number and got ready for the inquisition. “Hey girly! So…tell me everything!”

  I laughed and said, “There’s nothing to tell, really.”

  I heard her sigh. “No! No no no. I saw the way Lark couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. Ari texted me and told me you and Lark practically had sex on the dance floor.”

  I rolled my eyes and was going to kill Ari the next time I saw her. “Lark left for work,” I busted out.

  “What? Oh Azurdee, I’m so sorry.”

  I closed my eyes and could almost feel his breath on my neck. “Don’t be sorry, he left earlier this morning,” I said in a husky voice. I snapped my eyes open and let out a sigh. “Were you super sore after your first time?”

  Silence.

  “Hello? Jessie?”

  “What did you just ask me?” she said.

  I chuckled. “After your first time. Were you sore?”

  Then she screamed. Right in my ear. “Azurdee! You and Lark? Oh. My. God. Was it good? I mean, I know it hurts at first, but after that? How many times did y’all? Was he sweet to you? That bastard better have been sweet to you! Was it hot? Oh my God, tell me everything!”

  I laughed as I made my way downstairs. I saw about a half dozen people out back cleaning up the rest of the reception. Tables and chairs were being taken down and placed into a trailer.

  “Azurdee!”

  “Oh, sorry. I was watching them take down the rest of the things from the reception.”

  She let out a long sigh and said, “Azurdee, spill it.”

  I moved into the living room and sat down on the sofa. “Oh Jessie, it was amazing. He was amazing. He kept calling me mi amor! It melted my heart every time he said it. He was sweet, passionate, and so gentle. It was beyond anything I had ever dreamed.”

  She let out the silliest little yelp. “I knew Lark Williams had it in him. He just needed to find the right girl.”

  My stomach dipped a little and my smile faded a bit. “Well, I’m not sure if I’m the right girl or even the girl.”

  “Wait. Was this a one-time thing? Please tell me you didn’t agree to him taking your virginity and walking away!”

  “No. We both agreed that we would be exclusive, but I have a feeling this is the first time he has been exclusive since…well since…” Why couldn’t I say her name?

  “Nikki?” Jessie asked.

  “Yes. Jessie, why do I feel like I’m in competition with someone who passed away years ago? I can’t shake this feeling that he was comparing me to her.”

  She let out a breath and said, “Pesh. Nonsense, Azurdee. He would never do that. I’m sure it was probably just very powerful for him. I mean, by his own admission he has said he has no intentions of ever…”

  Her voice trailed off and I knew she was regretting what she had just said. “Jessie, I knew how Lark was and how he thought when I got into this. I know he could walk away at any given moment.”

  I silently prayed that would never happen, but deep down inside I knew it was a strong possibility.

  “He won’t walk away, sweetie. I see the way he looks at you. I think you are the game changer he’s been waiting for.”

  I bit down on my fingernail and began chewing it. “Maybe. I don’t want to get my hopes up, ya know?”

  “So tell me…are you sore?” she asked with a giggle.

  I felt like a teenager in high school. “Let’s just say he told me he was going to make it so I would think about him every time I moved…for a few days.”

  Jessie let out a gasp and began laughing. “Oh my.”

  I dropped my head back onto the sofa and said, “Jessie…he is amazing. I mean…the way he can be so sweet and then so dirty. Oh God. He had me going insane with lust for him.”

  “The sweet part surprises me, but not the dirty,” she said with a laugh.

  I laughed in return and said, “Four times.”

  “Four times! Look at the stamina Mr. Williams has!”

  We both lost it in a laughing fit. “Jesus, Azurdee. No wonder you’re sore.”

  “Bed twice, bathtub once, and then the shower,” I said in an almost whisper.

  “Well damn. I’m a bit jealous. I think I’m going to have to run a hot bath,” Jessie said with a giggle. “When will he be back?”

  The strangest feeling moved over me and I wasn’t really sure what to think of it. I almost felt scared. Like Lark might be in some kind of danger.

  “Azurdee?”

  Jessie’s voice pulled me out of my daydream. “He um…he said he’d be back in five days at the most.”

  “He mention where he was going?” Jessie asked. I could see her now all perked up. I let out a weak laugh and said, “Nope.”

  “Damn it. What does that boy do for a living? One of these days I’m gonna find out.”

  Right then my cell phone buzzed and I pulled it away. A text message from Lark scrolled across the top.

  “Oh my God!” I screamed.

  “What? Is everything okay? What’s wrong?” Jessie screamed back.

  “He just sent me a text. I gotta go!”

  “No! Wait. Don’t hang up you bitch—put me on speaker and read it,” Jessie said in a panicked voice.

  I hit speaker and opened up his text message.

  Lark: I can’t stop thinking about you. I hope your morning is going good.

  Even with Jessie on the phone, I had to reply right away.

  Me: I can’t stop thinking about you either. My morning has been…uneventful so far.

  He quickly replied back.

  Lark: Have to take off again but just wanted to say hey. See ya in a few.

  Me: Be careful and have a safe trip.

  Lark: Always.

  Jessie cleared her throat. “Hello! I’m still here, ya know. What did he say?”

  I sighed and said, “He said he was thinking about me and that he hoped I had a good morning. He said he had to take off again and would see me in a few days.”

  Jessie and I both let out sighs and then began laughing. “Well, I mean it’s not very romantic considering he just popped your cherry and all.”

  “Jessie! Oh. My. God. Really?”

  “Hey, I have to run. I see my handsome husband walking my way. Take it easy and stay at the house as long as you want, sweets. I’ll see ya when we get back.”

  “Hey, Jessie?”

  “Yeah?”

&nb
sp; I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Do you think Lark is…well, do you think he is capable of just being with one person? You don’t think I just made a mistake, do you?”

  “Azurdee, I know I’ve never seen Lark look at someone like he does you. I know he never talks about bagging girls, as he so lovingly puts it, anymore. Yes, I think he is very capable of being with just one person. Do you think you made a mistake?”

  I chewed on my lip and said, “No. Either way, I wanted it to be him.”

  “Don’t worry, babe. I have a feeling Mr. Williams is officially off the market.”

  I gave a weak smile even though I knew she couldn’t see me. “One more thing, Jess. Bathtub sex is amazing.”

  She let out a laugh and said, “Oh hell yeah it is!”

  I hung up and tossed my phone to the side of me. I held out my hand and it was shaking. I dropped my head back and let out the breath I had been holding. I looked up and glanced over to the buffet table and saw a picture of Scott and Lark when they went fly fishing a few months back. I got up and walked over to it. I reached down and picked it up and ran my finger across his face.

  I closed my eyes and whispered, “Lord, please keep him safe and please let me shake this uneasy feeling I have.”

  I set the picture back down and decided I needed to go for a run and clear my head.

  I headed into the laundry room and put the sheets in the dryer and then bolted upstairs to change.

  By the time I was running on the dirt road that ran around Scott and Jessie’s place, I was finally feeling better. I began running a little faster as I thought about all the things I wanted Lark to do to me when he got home.

  I attempted to push Lark from my thoughts and began planning things for the restaurant. Another half a mile and I stopped. I put my hands on my hips and let my head drop.

  “Shit. Shit. Shit,” I yelled out. I shook my head and took in a few deep breaths and totally pushed Lark Williams out of my mind as I began running and started laying out the table locations in my head.

  When my cell phone buzzed, I stopped and pulled it out, shocked I even had a signal. One look at who it was and I rolled my eyes. I hit reject and started running back toward the house.