Beneath the Fallen Stars

“I could have taken them with my eyes closed.”

“That’s my point. You were there. She didn’t need me.”

Did she need me? No, she didn’t, but damn if the thought of her needing me doesn’t have my heart beat an erratic flutter in my chest. It figures I finally meet someone I wouldn’t mind getting to know better, and she lives a state away from my family, and I’m only home for two weeks. It’s back to the base for us, and who knows where after that. That’s not fair to her. Fuck, it’s not fair to me.

For the first time since enlisting, I wish I was at a normal nine-to-five, just so I could have the chance to get to know her better.

I don’t understand what’s happening to me.

Chad pulls into the driveway and climbs out of his truck. He greets Shayne while I sit here, wiping my sweaty palms against my jeans and pull in deep, even breaths into my lungs. A knock sounds on the door, and I startle. Turning, I see Chad and Shayne standing, looking through the window at me. Luckily, it’s dark. That’s my only saving grace that neither of them can see me freaking out.

Why am I freaking out? Right, the beautiful woman who just smiled and waved at me through the window. Lifting the handle, I push open the door and climb out.

“You good?” Chad asks.

I can hear the concern in his voice. We’ve seen things that neither of us likes to talk about, but that simple question tells me he’s making sure that it’s not just my infatuation with his cousin that had me sitting in the truck like an antisocial loner. “Yeah, I’m good,” I assure him. Funny, I haven’t thought about our most recent deployment at all since I walked in and met the beautiful Shayne.

She’s the perfect distraction.

Chad throws his arm over my shoulder and the other over Shayne’s as we walk toward the house. He pushes open the door and enters, Shayne behind him and then me. I’m not going to deny the fact that I let my eyes roam over her. My cock twitches when I take in her ass in those jeans. Fuck, her in those jeans should be illegal.

I’m jolted out of my thoughts when I slam into the back of her. My hands immediately go to her hips to steady her. Is it just me or did she lean into my chest? “You all right?” I ask, my lips next to her ear.

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Damn, Ford, you just about mowed her over.” Chad chuckles. He knows exactly what had me distracted if the glint in his eye is any indication.

“Sorry, Shayne,” I say softly. My hands are still gripping her hips, and my hard cock is now pressing against her ass. I know I should release her, but I can’t seem to get my hands on board with that plan.

“Shayne, what a nice surprise,” Joan, Chad’s mom, says as she enters the living room. “Are you kids hungry?” Her eyes flash to my hands on Shayne’s hips, and reluctantly, I release Shayne. I miss her heat instantly.

“Nah, we had wings at Jet’s,” Chad answers.

“Speak for yourself,” Shayne says, stepping next to Joan and giving her a hug.

“Well, you’re in luck. I just so happened to pull two homemade peach pies out of the oven.”

“Aunt Joan, you know I can’t say no to your peach pie.”

“You should have started with that, Mom,” Chad says, moving toward the kitchen. “I’m always hungry for your peach pie.”

I trail along behind the three of them. With my hands shoved into my pockets, I watch as Chad and Shayne take a seat at the island as they’ve done, I’m sure, countless times. I’m envious of all the time he’s been able to spend with her.

“Ford?” Joan asks, holding up a plate with a huge slice of peach pie.

“Thank you.” I nod and slide onto the empty barstool next to Shayne, who takes a bite of her pie and moans. I have to swallow hard to bite back a groan of my own, but it has nothing to do with the pie and everything to do with her.

This woman is going to be the death of me.

Chapter 4

Shayne

I’m completely enthralled by their story. I’ve been listening to Chad and Ford carry on together around the campfire, sharing how they met in basic training and tales of mischief and comradery. They’ve pretty much monopolized the conversation since we moved from the kitchen to out here, but I haven’t minded. In fact, I’ve discovered I really enjoy listening to Ford talk. There’s just enough Ohio twang that I could hear him recite the owner’s manual for my car and never get bored.

“I had to get really drunk to scrub the image of Hunt streaking naked through that field out of my mind,” Chad says, a disgusted shiver sweeping through his entire body as he pulls a face.