His Wicked Pleasure (16 page)

              Her cell phone rang the same time the doorbell rang, which caused her to talk and walk.

             
‘Hey Jason.’

              ‘Make sure you save me some food. I’m stuck working late tonight am I’m starving.’

              ‘No problem. I cooked plenty of food.’

              ‘Okay. See you in a bit.’

              ‘Love you.’

              Opening the door, Kristie smiled at Declan as he walked in and shook out his hair being sure to aim at her. “I’ll be right back. I have more stuff in the car,” he said as he turned and ran back outside into the torrential rain.

              Kristie held the door open for him and cringed when he ran towards her. “You’re like a charging bull,” she said with a smile and stepped out of the way.

              Declan looked at Kristie with a hint of mischief in his eyes. “I’d like to charge you straight upstairs to your bedroom.”

              “You’re soaking wet,” said Kristie attempting to get away from him but failing.

              Feeling himself twitch, he bent down and whispered, “That’s something I plan on saying to you sometime in the very near future.”

              Blushing from her head to her toes, Kristie led Declan inside and said, “Take off whatever is wet. I’ll wash and dry it for you. I’m sure one of my brothers has something you can wear in the meantime.”

              Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Declan put his things down and hugged Kristie tight. “We need to talk.”

              Feeling her heart stutter inside her chest, she raised her head and looked at him with her green eyes showing a hint of pain. “Now?”

              Hearing her voice crack caused his stomach to turn. Hurting her was the last thing he ever wanted to do. Taking her hand in his, he said, “Yes. Right now.”

              “Let me turn off the stove so the food doesn’t burn.”

              “Okay,” said Declan counting to ten in an effort to calm his nerves.

              Turning around quickly, Kristie said, “Where would you like to talk?”

              “Honestly? Somewhere we won’t be disturbed.”

              “My bedroom,” said Kristie. She turned away from him and walked towards the beautiful, white marble stairs. She climbed the stairs slowly and then walked into her bedroom where she patiently waited for Declan.

Leaning against the door, she focused on breathing, telling herself over and over again that he’s only a man. She hoped that would calm her nerves. Her deep breaths weren’t helping and her fear caused her stomach to turn.

              “Why don’t you sit down,” said Declan trying to collect his thoughts.

              “Okay,” said Kristie softly as she anxiously waited for the bomb to explode inside her.

              Sitting alongside her, Declan lifted her face and planted a kiss on her lips. When the kiss ended, he looked into her brilliant, green eyes and noticed the sadness and worry, which pained him because he was the one putting it there “There’s no easy way to say this.”

              Kristie felt her heart lurch and thought it actually flew right out of her chest. Sitting up a little straighter, she did her best to focus and remain calm.

              Declan stood up and took a few steps, turned and brought his body directly in front of her. Bending down, he said, “My team and I will be deployed tomorrow at five in the morning. I don’t know how long I’ll be, nor do I know when I’ll be home.”

              Kristie did her best to hold it together but her bottom lip began to tremble. “Oh,” was all she was able to say.

              Pulling her up, Declan wrapped his arms around her and held her against his body. He stood there silently and just breathed her in. Feeling her every breath, he whispered, “This is going to be so difficult. I have come to enjoy spending time with you and will truly miss that.”

~*~*~*~

              The celebratory mood that Kristie had cooked with had disappeared in the bedroom when Declan had told her about his deployment. They had returned to the kitchen and she’d finished cooking. Dinner was eaten in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Kristie didn’t even notice her brothers’ walking in and joining them.

              She was lost in a fog of emotions. Kristie’s mouth was moving but her actions reminded her of a robot. Once everything was cleaned up, they walked into the living room and watched television for a few hours.

              Declan turned to Kristie once her brothers went their separate ways, “Come on, I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

              Turning to face Declan, Kristie opened her mouth to speak but Declan stopped her with his lips. “Don’t deny me my last request Barbie Doll.” He spoke in a husky voice, which sent chills down her spine. Not trusting her voice to reply, she took his hand in hers and led him upstairs, neglecting to say a word to her sister or Paul.

              Before she closed the door, Declan whispered, “I’ll be right back.”

              She walked into her bathroom, brushed her teeth, washed her face and walked towards her bed, where she plopped down in an unlady-like huff. Her body was shaking from nerves and her head began to spin. Finally, Declan walked in and closed the door.

              “Before I leave, I have something for you,” said Declan in a warm voice while his eyes watched Kristie carefully.

              “Thank you,” she said taking the package he held out for her. Letting out a small breath, she eyed the beautiful bag and opened it with trembling fingers. Looking up at his with two red blotches on her cheeks, she said, “Apologies. I’m just wracked with so many different emotions right now.”

              “I know Barbie Doll...I am too. I promise the moment I’m on my way home, I’ll let you know. I want you to be the first face I see once I’m here,” he whispered, his voice full of love. “Deal?”

              Sucking in her pain, Kristie closed her eyes for a moment to collect her emotions. Pulling herself together, she said, “Deal.” Turning her attention back to the package in front of her, Kristie pulled out a velvet red box and opened it.

              “Here,” said Declan taking the box from her. “I had these made for you. Whenever you think of me or miss me, all you have to do is look down.” He placed the silver dog tags around her neck and kissed her. “Now I’ll always be with you.”

              Kristie held her hand on the cold silver as it laid near her heart and read the tags with interest: G.I. Joe Loves Barbie Doll 4-Ever. Moving her eyes to the other one, it read: G.I. Joe <3 Barbie Doll 4-Ever. In an attempt to hold back tears, Kristie reached her hands up and placed them on either side of his face. Finding her voice, she said softly, “Thank you G.I. Joe. This means so much to me.”

              “Just promise me that you’ll wait for me to return home…”

Chapter Fifteen

              The following morning, Kristie woke up to an empty bed and a broken heart. All she could think about was how she gave Declan his last kiss before they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

              Pulling herself up and out of bed, she decided sleep wasn’t an option despite the early hour.

              “Good morning,” said Lorie as she walked into Kristie’s room. “How’d you sleep?”

              “Not good,” said Kristie walking towards her bedroom window and looking outside. “I kind of had a feeling this would happen. They are Navy SEALs after all.”

              “That they are,” said Lorie sadly. “I’m about to get ready to go into the office. Wait for me. We’ll go in together.”

              “Perfect,” said Kristie walking into the bathroom and turning on the shower. “I’ll be ready in a half-hour.”

              Walking downstairs with sadness in each step, Kristie made her way towards the front door and opened it. “Wind and rain. What a surprise,” she mumbled while closing the door and gathering her things. “Kind of matches my mood. Dark and gloomy.”

              “You talking to yourself again Kristie,” stated her brother Billy while he walked towards her with his hand out. “Uncle Frank wants you to go over these and get back to him later on today if you can.”

              “Sure. Thanks,” said Kristie as she took the files from him and placed everything in her bag. Turning around, she noticed Daniella walking downstairs and said, “No wonder it’s raining. You’re bright eyed and bushy tailed so early in the morning.”

              “I know. Sean is taking me somewhere special today,” said Daniella with a huge grin.

              “Oh, and I thought you were actually planning on working today,” said Kristie sarcastically. “Silly me.”

              Lorie walked to the bottom step and looked at Daniella for a moment. Shaking her head, she said while walking towards the door, “Nice to see you.”

              Looking at Lorie, Kristie just shook her head and walked to her jeep. “I’m not looking forward to today. Too many people are getting fired.”

              “Don’t feel bad for them. They did this. Not you.”

              “This is true,” said Kristie driving down towards the office. Glancing over at her sister, she asked, “Are you all right?”

              “No. I feel broken inside and just want him to be ordinary with an ordinary job,” Lorie swiped at her cheeks...she was trying her best to keep from crying but she was failing at every turn.

              “Declan gave me his dog tags,” said Kristie keeping her voice even. “I can not cry today. Today, I am turning this pain into anger and will use it to my advantage. Suddenly, cleaning house doesn’t seem so bad.”

              “Great. I’m going to sit right beside you and help you in every way possible,” said Lorie feeling better. “We can’t sit here and wallow in self-pity. I’m not letting that happen to either of us. We will be fine. I’m sure they will be too.”

              “They will,” said Kristie pulling into the parking lot of their favorite coffee shop. “I figured something sweet would help us feel even better.”

~*~*~*~

              Declan had kissed Kristie goodbye before they’d fallen asleep and then he had breathed her in until it was time for him to leave. He had kissed her again and gazed at her innocent beauty before he had carefully climbed out of the bed and left her sleeping.

              He’d quietly left the house, gazing at her window one last time before he climbed into his truck and drove straight to the base.

              “Rain. I’m going to miss you while I’m away. It’s something most take for granted,” he said while getting out of his truck and grabbing his belongings.

              “Lieutenant. Do you always make it a habit of talking to yourself?” asked his commander.