Sidelined

“Ok.” Skye finally lifted her eyes to meet his stare.

“Ok?” His voice sounded hopeful.

“Yes. I’m not saying I’ll wait. I’m just saying right now I’m ok. I don’t want you to go. I don’t want this to be over.”

Ben’s arms circled her waist and he drew her against his chest. She inhaled the hints of cologne on his neck. Gradually, she wrapped her arms around his back and relaxed into his arms. She prayed to God that she didn’t just make the biggest mistake of her life. She didn’t know if she was cut out for military life—constant surprises and goodbyes, but right now she knew she couldn’t let Ben out of her life when she had finally found him.

This was her first pre-deployment week. She didn’t know how it was supposed to go or if this one was normal, but her only instinct was to go into automatic problem-solving mode. Ben had a list of things he needed to take on his overseas trip, but limited packing space to carry everything. He told her there was a two-bag limit. That alone would send most girls into a fashion tailspin. How do you travel around the globe for six months with only a sack for your essentials? There were parts of military life that she knew she would never be able to handle. She was glad she was on the support side.

Skye searched online for compact travel accessories. She stopped by the store after work and loaded the cart with power bars and protein shakes he could add to his water while he was flying.

She tried not to think about the fact that in the three-leg journey from San Diego to Japan he would be over water for up to nine hours at a time. She pushed that out of her head. But while he was up there, he’d need to eat and it wasn’t exactly the kind of plane you could take along a turkey sandwich for lunch. She researched the currency in Guam and Japan, the types of foods that were available, the time difference, and all the tourist attractions near his base in Japan.

“You’re really into this.” Ben laughed as she handed him a spreadsheet. “This is my first WESTPAC spreadsheet.” He studied the categories she had listed: restaurants, historic locations, entertainment.

“I know you’re really busy at work this week with all the training preparations you’re doing. It’s something I thought could help.” Sitting on the couch, she wondered if she had gone too far with the research.

“It’s awesome. Thank you.” He kissed her cheek.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving in two days.” Skye chewed her bottom lip. Saturday morning was going to suck.

“After we get off work tomorrow we’ll do something just the two of us. Whatever you want to do.”

“But don’t you have to get up early to fly the next morning?”

“I do, but I’d do anything to have another night with you.” He pulled her under him so she was completely flat on the couch. “Starting with tonight.” His lips nipped at her ear.

“Maybe we should make it an early night.” She reached for the edge of his T-shirt, smiling as he pulled it over his head and threw it across the room.

“Oh no, we are going to be up all night. No sleeping for you.” His tongue blazed a trail against her throat.

“Uh-uh. If we do that, I’ll worry about your flight to Hawaii the entire day. Early to bed tomorrow, ok?”

Ben sat on his heels, taking his time to unbutton her shirt. She arched toward him as he played with the outline of her bra. His mouth descended on her stomach.

“If what you’re saying is as soon as we get home from work we’re getting naked and going straight to bed, then I’m not arguing with you.”

His hands clutched at her waist and began tugging on the yoga pants she had thrown on as soon as she got home. His fingers dipped between her legs. His teeth yanked on the silk hugging her hips.

“Mmm...hmm. That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Her head rolled back.

“Baby, you know you drive me crazy.” His thumbs hooked under the silk strings and he peeled them over her legs, dropping them on the floor. “But I want you to feel how crazy you make me.”

“Oh God.” Skye’s hands flew to his head as his tongue lashed at her. Her legs began to tremble as the pressure built. Everything Ben did felt like he possessed her, that he was claiming her every time their bodies met. He could own her, take her, drive into her, she wanted all of it and more. His eyes raked over her body as he kissed her inner thigh. He moved to the other side, dotting the inside of her legs with more kisses. Skye knew her body was no longer hers as his tongue pressed against her again and he began a slow rhythm that had the room spinning.

“You know you’re mine, don’t you?” His fingers dug into her hips, steadying her from wiggling away from him. Although Skye would never leave this delicious torture.

“Mmm…hmm.” She rose to meet his mouth. She was on the edge of letting everything go.

“Say it, baby. Say it.” She heard his pants hit the floor and felt him settle between her legs. She opened her eyes to see his killer smile hovering over her. “Tell me, Skye.”

“I’m yours.”

There were only two more days until D-day. That’s what Skye had mentally nicknamed the deployment departure date. She sat at her desk, staring at her screen. The emails rolled in, but she didn’t have the focus to muster a response. All she could think about was Ben.

“You here today?” Kari chirped from the doorway.

“Oh hey.” Skye looked up from her laptop.