Out of Time: A Military Romance Read online

"Well, you're mine now! And I cooked," she said. She opened the door and he was hit with the yummy fragrance of pies and baked casseroles. The apartment was all Asha. She had decorated it in lights and trimmings. She had a bare tree over by her vintage stereo and record player. He dropped his duffle and shed his coat.

  "How're Thatch and the guys?" she asked.

  "Fine. They said to tell you hello."

  "Really?" she said and walked out with a coffee mug and handed it to him. "It's eggnog, with something special in it."

  Ice took her by the hand and pulled her over to him. "Where's my kiss?"

  "Have you been kissing other girls Ice?"

  Ice rolled his eyes. "No. No other girls. Okay?"

  "Sorry." Asha shrugged and walked away.

  "Hey, wait a second, I need a kiss."

  "Earn it," she winked. Ice groaned. He shook his head and walked over to the sofa. He sat down on it. Asha came back out and turned on the television. She flipped it to the parades. He checked his watch. He would have to do some real sweet talking to watch the game. He glanced over to his duffle bag. He had a Christmas gift, a really good one. He could already tell Asha had her feelings about their friendship not being the commitment she wanted. If he gave it to her early, it could pay off.

  "Asha," he said.

  "Hmm," she said and licked the icing on her fingers. She was frosting something. It was just them for the holidays but she was cooking enough for an army.

  "Come here," he said.

  She put down her knife and came back out of the kitchen. She walked over and sat next to him. He touched her face and turned it to look at him. "My kiss?"

  She smiled and gave him what he'd craved for months. She tasted like butterscotch and frosting. He wanted to taste more of her. She pushed at his chest when he tried to bring her over to his lap.

  "Are you hungry? I cooked. We can eat whenever."

  "You said that already, babe," he said. He forcefully brought her over to his lap. She straddled him.

  "I know, but you had to come in from Maine. I know you haven't eaten, and..." she sighed when his hands went under her shirt. "Ice, don't," she groaned when he touched her breasts. She had large ones for her size. And they were natural, real, soft. He could only touch them. She would never take her shirt off so he could see them. He wanted to see them real bad.

  "Asha, you know I care about you."

  "Yes," she said.

  "I'm in love with you," he said. The tight grip she had on his wrists to bring his hands out from under her sweater and off her breasts loosened. She looked at him with surprise. After a year of on and off dating he'd never said those words to her. Now he had.

  "You are?"

  "I'm in love with you," he repeated. "I don't want other women. I want you. Only you."

  "You do?" she asked.

  "Look into my eyes. Am I lying?" he asked.

  She smiled. "I love you too, Ice. So much! I have since... for a long time. But I knew—well, I knew we were different."

  He laughed. "We aren't that different, sweetheart. I know a good woman when I kiss one."

  She punched his chest playfully. "Very funny."

  "It's true. That kiss, our first kiss at the lighthouse was when I felt it. How I knew I could fall in love with you. Remember? We drank cocoa and then went to bed together." She cupped his face. "I was in love! I'm in love with you. I was so afraid to say it. Because..."

  He pulled her shirt up. She sat back and let him take it off her. She was now on his lap in her pink lace bra. He prayed she had matching panties. He loved women who knew how to put that together, bra and panties. He admired her skin. The pink against the brown only made her more appetizing. When his gaze lifted to her eyes he saw a mix of trepidation and desire there. She was on the hook. He could tell. But she was scared. Ice had only said the words. Asha's dream was to have more. He kissed her left and then her right breast.

  "Let me see them. I promise not to touch them. We aren't breaking any rules if I see them, are we?"

  "Ice..."

  "Asha," he said and kissed her lips. "Show them to me. It's going to be a long three days if you don't. Because all I'm going to think about is them."

  She smiled and nodded. She reached behind her and unlatched her bra. It slowly lowered. And they were beautiful, perky and proportioned. He stared at them like a wolf would a roasted Christmas pig. His mouth watered.

  "I'm hungry. Can we eat?" he asked as his throat went dry.

  "Yeah," she grinned. She put her bra back on. She latched it first and then stuffed the cups with her fat tits. She tried to get up and he stopped her.

  "One condition."

  "Okay," she said.

  "Don't put on a shirt."

  She leaned in and kissed him. "You’re so naughty, Ice."

  "Do you have on matching panties?" he breathed.

  "Yes, pink and lace," she giggled.

  "Mmm," he groaned.

  She scooted off his lap and went to the kitchen. Ice readjusted his erection. He watched her happiness. She was twenty now. He was twenty-eight. He'd travelled the world and seen and done many things. He'd had his share of women. Lots of women. Some of them forgotten, some of them unforgettable, but none of them were like his Asha. What else did a fucking man need to commit?

  He sighed. His gaze shifted over to his duffle bag. He wanted her. His crew, every one of them but Thatch, had a wife. He and Thatch had sworn to be wolves for life.

  "I don't have a table, Ice. We have to eat on the floor. Can you come and get the blanket from the closet? The one that has a Christmas tree. I bought it yesterday from Target for us."

  "Sure babe, whatever you say."

  18.

  "I won!" Asha laughed. Ice looked at the board. She'd gotten every one of her circular pieces in the side slot. It was the third time she beat him at backgammon, and she was giddy with excitement. He winked at her. They were on the floor, him with his beer and her with her hot cocoa. He was so filled up on food he could barely keep upright.

  Asha had gone and put on a robe. He'd convinced her to come out of her jeans so he could see her panties. But she wasn't comfortable that way. The compromise was the robe. What a man wouldn't put up with to be close to the woman he loved.

  "I got you a Christmas present," he said.

  "I got you one too, a couple," she said and pointed to the tree. She began to set up the game-board again.

  "A couple? Babe? Why?"

  "Because I love you, silly," she said. "We already covered that."

  He smiled. He turned over to his side and watched her. She'd taken her hair out of its ponytail. It poofed around her face and brushed the top of her shoulders. He continued to stare. It was time.

  Ice pushed up from the floor and walked back to her bedroom, where he'd put his duffle bag, and unzipped it. Inside he pulled out the gift-wrapped ring box. It was a small diamond, a promise ring. Now he considered making it much more.

  "Ice?" he heard her behind him. "Want to watch ‘A Christmas Carol?’ It's coming on. I can pop us some popcorn and we can decorate the tree. At home that's what my family does. We decorate the tree on Christmas Eve."

  Ice stared at the ring box. He thought about his next move. Thought hard about it.

  "Ice?"

  He looked at her. She stood there smiling. And her smile brightened when she saw the red-wrapped box with the white bow. He handed it over to her. "Merry Christmas, Asha."

  "For me? Oh wow, thank you."

  "Open it," he said.

  "Let's wait until the morning," she said.

  "No. Babe, you have to open this one now," he said.

  "But... okay," she agreed. He watched her and felt himself sweating. She untied the bow too slowly. It took too long for her to lift the lid from the box. Even longer for her to bring out the ring box. And to his surprise the moment she did, he got down on one knee.

  "Ice?" she asked.

  "I was going to give it to you as a promise ring. My promise
to make you my wife someday. To be a good boyfriend to you."

  "It's so pretty," she said.

  "But I don't want to wait until someday. I want you now. I want you every day. I want you to marry me. Will you marry me, Asha?"

  Tears wet her eyes. Her hand came down from her mouth. "Yes. Yes!" she said and got down on the floor with him. She attacked him with kisses and tears. "Yes!"

  Ice had never seen her so happy. He'd never felt so happy. He was a nervous wreck, but the minute she kissed him he felt complete. He'd done it. He'd chosen the woman of his dreams and she said yes. He was in love. The real kind. The kind of love that made you a better person. A real man. He got up with her clinging to him. She was giving him too much excitement, too much. And in her happiness she let her guard her down. He had her robe off her before she knew it. He unhooked her bra and the breasts he'd dreamed about for many torturous months bounced free. He put her on the bed and pinned her there.

  "Ice, wait, please," she pleaded.

  He couldn't. He dragged his tongue down from her neck to her nipple and he sucked on it as he dragged off her panties. She went from moaning to protesting, to moaning again. Now she was naked. His face went lower. "Ice, no," she begged.

  He pushed her down and licked her pussy. She cried out with pleasure. His gaze lifted and he saw the torture on her face. He could make her his. Force it to the point where she begged for it. But that torment and conflict on her face stopped him. He truly did love her. All of her. The sweet innocence. The convictions. All of her. And he'd never want to force her into something because of his selfish desires. So with great restraint he stopped.

  "If you want to I'll let you," she panted. "I love you."

  He came up on the side of her. He paused to look at her body once more. He groaned in his throat. "I love you. I'm going to prove it. We'll wait until you're ready."

  "Until our wedding night?" she asked.

  He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and his face wrinkled with agony. "Yes. Our wedding night. Can we elope?"

  "No, silly!" She rolled over onto him. He rubbed her ass. "I promise you won't be disappointed. I've read all kinds of books. I know my body. I know what men like."

  "You do?" he chuckled.

  "You'll see. I'm a smart girl." She kissed under his neck.

  He groaned again. "Put on some clothes. Cover everything. Long sleeves, and even socks. I don't want to see anything."

  Asha laughed. "We can still have fun, Ice."

  "No. No. No. No. Put on some clothes. Now." He scooted off the bed. He refused to look her way. He grabbed his dick and went into the bathroom. He closed the door and locked it. He undid his zipper and reached in and pulled out his cock. He jerked and tugged on it hard and fast. He kept going until the release exploded like an atom bomb. And he had a mess to clean up afterwards.

  "Ice? You okay?"

  "Yeah babe, out in a second."

  "Okay. We can decorate the tree!"

  He shook his head. He looked up at his reflection. "Ice, brother, what have you gotten yourself into?"

  Chapter Eight

  Past - 4:15 P.M. December 24, 2010

  Fisher Creek, Wisconsin

  "Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Quinn," the wedding planner said into the microphone. Asha's arm was hooked around her handsome husband’s. He was in his dress uniform, complete with his hat. Her husband was handsome—every button polished, all his medals on display. She couldn't help but grin with pride and excitement. She'd been grinning since her father walked her down the aisle. She grinned when he said his vows. She leaped on him and kissed him before the minister pronounced them husband and wife. It was her dream. A dream wedding, a dream husband, a dream life. Together they walked into a tented reception with everyone cheering and standing.

  "Ice! Look at it. So beautiful."

  "Nothing is more beautiful than you, princess," he said. She looked over at him and he kissed her. The applause got louder.

  The reception brought out the entire village. Ice couldn't believe the size of the gathering. Even some of his boys from the Army and USCG attended. He guessed it was something to see. Ice, the never-committed playboy, tying the knot.

  Fisher Creek was a storybook village by the lake. It was small, quiet, and the people were very polite. From what he could see, there were very few blacks in the town other than Asha's family. But no one blinked twice at the Lt. Commander and his black bride. Some of his own family, including his father, in Mississippi refused to attend when they learned who he had chosen for a wife. But his mother, brothers and sister were there. They laughed and joined in with the Radcliffe family as they prepared their daughter to be wed. Asha had even made his sister a bridesmaid.

  They took their seats with the wedding party. Thatch was the first up to the microphone to give his toast. Though Ice made his brother the best man, Thatch was his best friend. And he told the crowd how special Asha was to tame a wolf like Ice. It was true. Many others gave their well wishes, including Tiffany, who took credit for introducing them.

  "Ice, I'm ready when you are," Asha said. She had barely eaten her meal. And they hadn't cut the cake or had the first dance.

  "Ready?" he frowned.

  She slid her hand over his leg. "Don't you want to start the honeymoon?"

  Ice laughed. His dick was rubbed raw in the past year from all the masturbation. He'd even started taking pictures of her body when she slept so he could use them as the visual aid all those lonely nights at the outpost. He was so worn out from waiting on his wedding night, he'd almost forgotten how important the night was for them.

  "I need my first dance," he said.

  "Deal, plus, I got Amy to sing our song," Asha smiled.

  "Our song?" he frowned. He didn't know they had one. "I thought you were ready to go?"

  "I was teasing. And put your hat back on. I like it when you wear it," she said.

  He chuckled and put it back on his head. He stood and scooted out her chair. Her sister went to the band and told them to play a different song.

  Asha stood before him in a dress made for a princess. Her hair had so many curls and her makeup was so flawless she looked like one of the models in a bridal magazine. He stood up and pulled out her chair. Amy and her sisters all got up and ready. The women started to hum the chorus as Amy stepped to the microphone. She sang “Santa Baby,” and she was good. Ice spun his wife out and brought her back into his arms.

  The gathered people clapped. The girls had an entire routine for it. Amy's imitation of Eartha Kitt was pitch-perfect. Asha smiled and sang softly to him. He swept her up against his chest and spun her. She kicked out her left leg and kissed him. Again those gathered clapped. He was so happy. He'd never been that happy. Ever.

  And when the song ended he was still happy. Now he was ready. He was about to bust at the seams he wanted to leave with his wife so badly. But her father came to the dance floor and she was taken from him. Ice took Asha's mother's hand and danced with her.

  "You're a good man, Kevan," Mrs. Radcliffe said. "I'm so happy for my baby. You take care of her. Make sure she finishes school."

  "Yes ma’am, I promise."

  Mrs. Radcliffe had Asha's smile and eyes. She was equally beautiful. After a moment of dancing with her, Ice switched partners and danced with his mother.

  "I'm so happy for you. So proud of you," his mother said. She looked over to Asha. "She's a special girl. I always knew you'd choose one just like her."

  "Thanks, Ma."

  "Sorry about your father. He's stubborn."

  "You used to be stubborn," Ice said.

  "And then I realized how much I love my kids, and I want them to be happy. So make me a grandma soon, okay?" she said.

  He glanced over to Asha, who smiled while looking over her brother’s shoulder, who she now danced with. He winked. She winked.

  19.

  "Hold on," Ice told her.

  "Ice! You can't open the door and hold me in
your arms. Put me down, and let's..."

  "I got it. Just hold on," he grunted.

  Asha braced for disaster. She let him dip forward and struggle with the room key card. To her surprise he unlocked and tossed open the door.

  "Never doubt your husband," he told her.

  "Never!" she agreed. He carried her over the threshold and the door slammed shut behind them. Asha took his hat from his head and tossed it. She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him. He put her down and slowed her kisses.

  "Look, baby," he said.

  Asha glanced around. She was totally stunned by what her sisters had done. They'd decorated the entire room in rose petals and candles. It was a definite fire hazard.

  "This is nice. Did your sisters do this?" he asked.

  "Yeah, they are so sweet. I love it," Asha said. Ice began to unsnap and loosen the buttons to his dress jacket. She turned and looked at him.

  "I'm married now," she smiled and wiggled her ring finger.

  “Yes you are," he said and looked over his wife and her curves in her wedding dress.

  "I thought this day would never come," she sighed. "Never!"

  "Come here," he said.

  "Wait, before we..."

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him. The kiss that followed was sudden and demanding. She had to push hard at his chest and turn her face away to break his hold. Still, he kissed her neck and face.

  "One more thing, Ice."

  "No more waiting," he said between kisses. "This is my wedding night." He tried to figure out the way into the dress, but all he encountered was buttons.

  "I know. But I don't want to ruin my dress," she said and escaped him. "One day, your daughter is going to walk down the aisle in this same dress. Now. Can you just help me out of it? Please? Undress me. Okay? And then I'm all yours. All night, forever."

  "You promise?" Ice asked. “No more excuses, no more delays?”

  "Yes, I promise." She turned and dropped her hands to her hips. The dress was sheer lace except for the buttons. The front bodice was tight like a corset, with lace cups that covered her breasts. The dress had a mermaid style that sculpted her sexy curves. He loved the dress. He wished he could make love to her while she was in it. But that would be impossible.