

Hostile

Military Men Book #1

By: Leila Haven

**Published by**Smutpire Press

Copyright 2015 All Rights reserved

Smashwords Edition
Other books by Leila

This is part 1 of the Military Men series. Other books in this series can be found below:

If you enjoy this story, why not spend a few minutes browsing over Leila's entire naughty catalog? Don't forget to follow her on Book Sprout too! :)

# Chapter 1

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

I hadn't signed up for this. When I was considering the long list of occupations and I insanely decided on journalism, I hadn't expected to be sitting in a filthy room that was as hot as hell and surrounded by armed guards.

My aspirations had been simple. I wanted to tell stories. I wanted to travel to all parts of the world to give a voice to those that nobody would listen to. I never expected it to be easy. I never said I expected to be home by five and given a red carpet to walk on the whole way.

I expected danger, I expected dirt, and I expected some people to be unhappy with the work I did. I just didn't expect those people to be my own military.

It was time to get the hell out of there. I strode toward the door, my laptop under one arm and all my earthly possessions under the other. I outstretched my hand to open the door.

Only to be blocked by a camouflaged chest. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm leaving," I replied, defiantly looking the solider in the eyes. His hard stare didn't scare me. I'd stared down rebels in Tunisia; I could deal with a guy from my own country.

"I can't let you do that, ma'am."

"We're in a foreign country. You can't hold me here."

He gave me that look, the one I hated. The one that said I was only a stupid little woman and it was cute that I was having all these thoughts and everything when I should have been home in the kitchen making dinner.

"It's for your own good," he said. Points to him for keeping his chauvinistic thoughts to himself, I guessed. "Why don't you take a seat? The squad will be here soon to take you through to the checkpoint."

"I don't want to go to the checkpoint," I said, repeating the same words I had said over and over again since they'd detained me. I had been innocently walking the streets of Kabul when they'd taken me, kidnapping me just as I was on the trail of a great story about a family trying to maintain some kind of normal life in the war zone. The media credentials had meant nothing to them.

"Just take a seat. It won't be long now." The soldier gripped his gun just that little bit tighter so that he made his point. He would shoot me if I made any trouble for him. We were in Afghanistan, where bullets went astray all the time.

Where people went missing all the time.

The chances of me getting out that door were zero to none. I sat back down and my arms crossed over my chest automatically. I wasn't happy being kept hostage by the American military. It had been my choice to travel to the troubled country, and it was my life I was risking. They had no right to take away my choice.

It was unclear what they had in store for me. What little information they had given me indicated that some of their men were coming and escorting a group of us to the next military checkpoint. From there we would continue on and have access to transport out of the country. It was a polite way of escorting us out of Afghanistan.

My naturally suspicious mind thought there had to be a reason why they didn't want us there. Normally the media were tolerated everywhere; it was understood that there was a need for reporting even in the worst of conditions. Was there something the military didn't want us to report on in Afghanistan?

The grunt by the door didn't seem like the kind that would ask questions. He was a guy who took orders like they were gospel, never wondering or asking why. He did what they said until they said do something else.

While I respected our military, I didn't like that kind of mentality. It was the people who asked questions that changed the world. They made history; they made things better. I could never be silenced.

But, god, it was hot in that tiny room. They'd rounded up five of us. I was the only female. The rest were all contractors, mainly working for private security firms or in construction. They'd been brought over to do work and either gotten themselves lost or found themselves in over their heads.

I was the only member of the media too, and the only one not keen to return home. The men saw the military as their savior while I was looking for ways to sneak out of the holding pen without being seen.

"Sir, is there a restroom around here?" I asked the guy by the door.

"There's a bucket." He nodded at a dirty bucket in the corner. I had yet to see anyone use it. "Otherwise you'll have to hold it."

The family I had been staying with for a few days had been more civilized than this guy. He had no right rounding me up like a criminal and taking me against my will. When I returned to civilization, everyone was going to know about this. The story I would tell would be my own, and the military weren't going to come out looking like the heroes for once.

This was definitely not what I'd signed up for. And if it got any hotter in this freaking room I was going to have no choice except to take every piece of my clothes off. Plus hand my deodorant around for the guys to use.

# Chapter 2

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

This was not what I'd signed up for.

Here we were, the elite of the US military, deployed to one of the most dangerous countries in the world, where people were killed on an hourly basis, and we were on our way to play babysitters to some idiots who thought they could play soldier in a war zone.

Fucking idiots.

To make it worse, my bloody fucking brain could not think about anything else but sex. It had been four months.

Four. Months.

Four.

Fucking.

_Months_.

According to all the so-called experts, the average human has sex at least once a month. I used to laugh at those people. Give me a bar, give me a beer, and give me a few hours. I'd score on any night of the week. Women were predictable. Treat them a certain way, say the right things, and their panties would drop faster than I could get them back to their place.

Note: _their_ place. Never mine. I didn't do overnight stays. Fuck 'em and leave. That was my motto. There was no point sticking around to cuddle when we both knew what we were doing. I never led them on and I never got involved.

But all that was four months ago. My dick was throbbing, desperate for some action that wasn't from my own hand. We were living in close quarters, showering communally, sleeping communally, and doing everything in groups. It wasn't like we got much privacy so I could jerk off all that often.

That's right, my cock wasn't even getting much hand action. I needed a fuck more than I needed anything else. Being surrounded by men, that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. I had no problem with homosexuality, but I didn't swing that way.

It was chicks all the way for me. I needed a hole, not a pole.

Every bump on the fucking road made my starchy fatigues scratch against my dick. I started moving my leg up and down just so it would rub a little more. I swear, a few more bumps and I would have a hard-on in no time.

I was shameless.

If I actually came in my camouflage and had to wear the fucking stain in my crotch until I could wash my pants I was going to be angry with myself. The guys would never let me live it down. I'd be known as the Cum Kid for the rest of the tour.

"Watson, you got gum in your ears or something?" My name tugged me sharply from my thoughts. The guys sitting around me in the truck replaced all the naked female bodies on rotation in my head.

I have to be honest, the boobs in my visions were a lot nicer to look at than the group of dirty soldiers bouncing around in the truck.

"Say something worth hearing and I'll listen," I replied lightheartedly. The only way to get through war was with jokes. The moment you lost your sense of humor, you lost your mind too.

Marshall pretended to be hurt but it was all an act. We'd all been deployed together four months ago but had been in the same unit for five years. We may not have been brothers by blood but we were bound together in ways only soldiers could truly understand.

"You hurt me, brother," Marshall replied. "I said we're almost there. You gonna take lead on this highly important mission, or what?"

"Sure. Everyone check their guns to make sure they have enough ammo. You never know how dangerous these tourists can be," I joked. Everyone knew we were glorified taxi drivers on this mission. All we had to do was show up, collect the people, and then hand them over to the next lotto winners.

Even through all the laughing and joking, we were still in full armor gear. Bulletproof vests, helmets, guns – everything we would take on a normal operation, we had on us now. We would cover each other like the enemy were around every corner because they still could be.

We could never let down our defenses, even when the mission was ridiculous. Everyone in the truck was well aware that it only took one fuck-up for us all to end up dead. One tiny misstep could end up with someone losing a limb.

The truck pulled up outside the address we had – a nondescript building currently under US military control. There were six US citizens inside that we were to escort to the checkpoint on the border. They would then be taken to Germany by the next available military air transport. It could be days or weeks – it wasn't like we were a commercial airline. They needed to take what we gave them and shut up about it.

The four of us moved in formation, each of us playing our part as Rafter and myself went inside the building while Marshall and Simon remained outside and guarded us. Their eager eyes would be always watching for any signs of danger.

Bailey was waiting for us inside. He formally handed us over the paperwork for the six and then rounded them up for us. They offered no resistance as they lined up at the doors.

Well, five of them, anyway. The last one trailed behind. He was smaller than the others and more reluctant. Bailey had to push him a bit just to get him to move along.

He was going to get a swift education about life in a war zone while under military escort if he kept up that kind of attitude when I had him in my custody. He wouldn't be acting like that for long.

He lifted his head and I almost fell over.

It wasn't a guy after all, but a woman. She had hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, plastering it to her head with sweat in the humidity. Her clothes were the traditional Afghan garb, hiding the curves I suspected were under there.

My dick almost flew out of my pants. Her face was gorgeous when she looked up and locked eyes with me. They were deep brown and fiery, burning with something behind them.

Then there were those lips. Full and luscious, red and delicious. I wanted to bite those lips, suck on them until she was whimpering with pleasure. Then I wanted those lips around my dick, sucking on it until I exploded in her mouth and my cum dribbled down her little chin.

My erection was just about full and all I'd done was look at the woman. Spending the next few hours with her in the truck was going to be difficult. All I would be able to think about would be her bouncing on my lap, her boobs jiggling with every bump on the road.

Fucking hell, it was going to be a long drive.

# Chapter 3

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

If I thought the holding cell they'd kept us in was bad, the vehicle they were using to transport us was even worse. The ten of us now, all crammed into the back of a military truck with more guns than seats.

The men had kindly given me the seat in the middle. They probably thought they were surrounding me with their protective barriers. All I could think of was the BO being wafted my way.

The soldier next to me hadn't looked at me since we got in the truck. He was gripping his gun so tightly his knuckles were white. I doubted that was a good thing. For the first time since I had been captured, I was actually worried about my safety.

Because he wasn't looking at me I could openly stare at him. He was way better looking than the boring desert planes outside. His jaw was chiseled into a hard, masculine line that he was clenching tightly. He had beard stubble, making him look ruggedly sexy.

And those eyes. Killer blue and intently focused on whatever it was that wasn't my face. He'd set me in his glare when he first picked us up, and it was all I could do not to look away. He could captivate with those baby blues.

Under all that armor and uniform I bet there were plenty of peaks and planes of nothing but hard muscle. He could probably bench-press the weight of the truck if he wanted to. He was a killing machine, trained for war and as deadly as the weapon in his hands.

In other words, the complete opposite of the guys I was normally attracted to. I was a journalist. If I wasn't out in the field, I was in the office, spending time with spindly writers who spoke about adventures they went on in their heads, not in the real world.

This guy, I bet he went on plenty of adventures. He was probably the caveman type, throwing a woman over his shoulder when he wanted one. Grunting was probably the best kind of conversation he offered.

But, man, was he hot. H-O-T, hot.

Sleeping around in these parts of the world got a woman killed. I'd been in the Middle East for a few months, so my legs had been well and firmly closed for business. But I wasn't interested in the caveman type, not even if he was hotter than the bloody truck.

Not that he was looking at me anyway. Maybe he went for the male type and he found the members of the other gender in our transport more interesting than me. It wouldn't have surprised me. The hottest ones always were always taken or gay.

We drove forever and ever. At least, it seemed that way, anyway. It was probably only a couple of hours before we pulled into a building just before dusk and stopped. I assumed it was the checkpoint the original grunt kept telling us about.

"Stay here," the solider next to me said before getting out. It was literally the only thing he had said to me for the entire journey.

Jerk.

We all had to stay like good little puppies while the soldiers did their thing. The truck pulled into a small yard surrounded by high fences – made higher again by razor wire. Even the security measures didn't make me feel any safer.

"Follow me and stay together," one of the guys said as he ducked his head back into the truck. We all shuffled after him.

When I reached the edge, the silent jerk extended his hand out for me to take. I ignored him, jumping down onto the ground without his help. My landing made a puff of red dust billow out underneath my feet.

We walked as a group through a tunnel made out of bricks and sandbags. Two of the soldiers were at the front and two flanked us at the rear. They were clearly paranoid, which was making me uneasy. It wasn't like I'd felt safe since I'd arrived in Afghanistan, but this was worse. Every little noise made me jump, every nerve in my body on high alert.

The tunnel opened up into an Army barracks where we stopped. The silent jerk turned to address us all; he seemed to be the leader of the group. "We will be staying here until we have clearance to move on. The men will be going with Private Marshall. The little lady is with me."

Everyone split off like it was a done deal and there was a memo that had circulated earlier with instructions. Meanwhile, I just stood there, dumbfounded.

"My name is Ariana. You don't have to refer to me as _little lady_ ," I said. "How long will we be here?"

"For as long as it takes."

"Which will be?"

He shrugged, as if that was enough of an explanation. Not only was this guy a jerk, but he was also an infuriating asshole. If this was considered our nation's finest, our country was doomed.

He started walked off without saying anything else. He got all the way to the next door before he turned back. "Are you coming or what?"

"Are you going to answer any of my questions?" I called back.

"No."

"Then what's the point?"

He shrugged again. I had a nice daydream of cutting off his arms and using them to beat him with. "Stay there, then. But I'm going to have something to eat."

The next thing I knew, he disappeared into the darkness of the doorway. My options were severely limited, being none. I had to run to catch up with him, just as my stomach started growling.

The jerk was waiting for me just around the corner, like we were playing some stupid game of cat and mouse. His lips were quirked up into an infuriating grin when he saw me catching my breath. My dignity was left somewhere in the desert.

We walked in silence again, but I couldn't take it. I was a journalist. I got information by conversing with people. Silence never got me anywhere. "So your uniform says Watson. I take it you're Private Watson?"

" _Corporal_ Watson."

"Does that make you the boss?"

He smirked again. It was kind of sexy but still not enough to endear him to me. "You could say that. In my platoon, anyway. I have plenty of bosses above me."

"Where are we?" Considering he was all chatty, I was determined to get some answers.

"Base twelve."

"And that is?"

"Classified." He enjoyed saying that word way too much. It was probably a federal offense or something to slap a soldier, right? "You sure ask a lot of questions for a tourist."

"I'm not a tourist. You really think I was in Kabul taking selfies and working on my tan?" I let out a chuckle, because really, the thought was insane. He gave me a sideways look, like he really did think I was a tourist. "Oh my god. I'm a journalist. I was working with local people and telling their stories."

"And now you need rescuing."

"I knew the dangers I was getting into. I never asked the American government to rescue me. When they learned I was in Kabul, they insisted on taking me into their custody."

"It's for your own good. Only the insane go into a war zone voluntarily."

"You did," I replied.

"Like I said." His grin was back. For the slightest of moments, it didn't annoy the hell out of me. He was actually making a joke and it was kind of funny.

Maybe we were both as crazy as each other.

We reached the cafeteria, or _mess hall_ , I guessed. A few weary soldiers were wandering around, and some were eating. The guys that had brought us in were there. They had somehow beaten us and were already sitting down eating.

Watson took me over to the counter and pulled down two trays, handing me one. We filled them quickly and then joined the others at the table. Considering the long journey, everyone was pretty upbeat.

"Get lost, brother?" Private Marshall said, nodding toward Watson. They seemed to know each other very well. They all looked to be about the same age, except for Private Simon, who appeared to be a bit younger. He was also the quietest of the bunch.

Watson didn't reply, just raised his eyebrows and then dug into his meal. He seemed like a man of few words with everyone, not just with me. I guessed that was somewhat good to know.

The soldier with the name Rafter embroidered on his uniform nudged me playfully in my side. "It's not often we get any female civilians on the barracks. I think you've made Watson all shy."

Everyone looked at him as a light blush started to creep up his cheeks. I'd have thought a soldier would have had a thicker skin than that. I'm sure he'd heard worse ribbing in the locker room.

"Well, you can consider me one of the boys if that makes it easier," I said. "Wouldn't want to put anyone out during my short stay here." I really hoped it would be short, anyway.

"I'm sure you're not going to put Watson out. I'm sure he's very pleased to see you here," Marshall added. They looked at each other, each one trying to contain laughter. They were sharing an inside joke, one that I could only guess was about a woman.

I was tired, grumpy, and not interested in listening to their banter any longer. The moment I was finished with the meal, I stood. "Is there a place I can wait until we leave? Somewhere I can plug in my laptop?"

They all exchanged another glance. I was getting pretty tired of being the odd one out of the loop. Whatever memo I'd missed must have been important.

They left Watson to deliver the news. "We're going to be here for a few days. I'll show you to your bunk in a minute."

"A _few days_? Are you kidding me?" My voice took on the qualities of a yapping terrier.

Watson stood. "Yeah, a few days. Is there somewhere else you need to be? Are we interrupting your terribly important life by trying to save it?"

Every inch of him was standing rigid, challenging me to challenge him. The entire table had grown so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. They were all staring at us, breaths held as they waited for the next move.

I wanted to tell Corporal Watson what I really thought about him, tell him what I thought about his attitude and his policies but this wasn't the place or the time. I was angry mainly at the situation, and he was the embodiment of that. To take him down now in front of everyone wouldn't bode well for me. I was in the middle of the desert with no other way of getting home.

Now was the time to keep my big mouth shut.

"Please show me to my bunk," I finally replied, even managing to keep my voice level.

It was like the room breathed a collective sigh of relief as everyone resumed their eating and conversations. Watson started walking, not bothering to see if I was following or keeping up with him.

# Chapter 4

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

Fucking hell, the woman was sent to challenge every inch of my self-control. First off I had to spend the entire journey staring out the window and focusing on the desert so I didn't see her bloody tits jiggling with every bump the truck went over.

Then there was the way her leg brushed up against mine with every movement the truck made. Every time we went around a corner she practically fell into my lap and hit my dick. What I wouldn't have given for seat belts in the fucking truck on that journey.

All I wanted was a good meal so I could at least focus on something other than my raging cock. One meal was all I asked for, and she had to go and ruin that too.

The moment she challenged me in the mess hall was the moment I nearly lost it. In my head I pictured jumping over the table and ripping her clothes off. I would have fucked her right on the floor, shoving my cock into her so hard she would have screamed for more.

Then I would have flipped her over a table and pressed my hands onto her back, holding her down and taking her from behind. I wanted to see my pulsing dick slide into her, pumping her while it was wet with her juices and hearing her panting, _pleading_ for more.

Her ass. I bet she had a fine ass, big enough to grip and bounce with every thrust. I wanted to hold those cheeks with both hands, squeeze them and pull her closer against me.

Just thinking about her was making my dick rock hard. My pants were getting tighter, uncomfortably so. And I still needed to make it across base and show her to her bunk. Walking was an issue with the fucking tent in my pants.

I acted like a gentleman, forcing her to lead the way. If she noticed I was walking funny, she didn't let on. If I had my way, _she_ would be the one walking funny. For days. Weeks, even.

Every single thought in my head kept coming back to the one thought. If I didn't fuck that woman, I was going to explode. There was no way any other cohesive thought was going to have a chance in the meantime. I was useless while in this perpetual state of horniness.

The female bunks in the base were only half-full. There were plenty of female members of the armed forces, but not many in this unit. Ariana – and, god, even her name was sexy – was going to have plenty of privacy while we waited for clearance to continue on with our mission.

She was the lucky one. If I had this kind of privacy, my dick would be getting a serious work out every morning and night. It would be a wank fest until we moved out. I would develop new muscles on my right arm that I never knew I had.

"This is your assigned bunk," I said, pointing to the lower level from the doorway. If I angled my body right I could just hide my boner. "Power socket's on the wall. Knock yourself out."

I turned to leave while I still could. The thoughts in my head were all kinds of X-rated while there was a bed in view. Ariana called me back before I could get anywhere. "What about a shower?"

A shower, now there was a good idea. Get her all soaped up, pin her against the wall, fuck the hell out of her wet, slippery body—

"Hello? Anybody home? I said _where is the bathroom_?" She had to click her fingers a few times to get my attention.

That was a prime example of why I never stayed the night with women. If I wasn't fucking them, they annoyed the hell out of me.

"It's down the hall. There's a big sign and an arrow. I'm sure you can figure it out. Or do you need me to draw you a map?"

"Funny. Thanks for nothing."

"Breakfast is at six tomorrow. Be there or starve," I said as my parting words. She seemed insulted by the early morning, but I ignored her.

She was going to be _really_ pissed when she discovered there was also a second breakfast at seven. I couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she worked it out.

I was being a dick, but I couldn't stop myself. I was always really grumpy when I was going through a dry spell, and now I was literally in the desert. Four months was more than a dry spell. My cock was at risk of shriveling up and falling off, I was sure.

It swung between my legs like a beacon, continually reminding me that I needed some action. Every step away from the woman reminded me that I was walking away from a pussy and some possible action. I was desperate, but not that desperate. That bitch was insane.

I tracked down my buddies, trying to get my head back in the game. All the civilians had been shown to their bunks, leaving only us. At least we could speak freely now. Unfortunately, the conversation was still on Ariana.

Tank, aka Private Simon, was all over the topic. "Man, she was hot. Like a mirage in the desert, hot. I wanted to tap that like there was no tomorrow. How come I never get assigned to look after the women?"

I smacked him over the back of the head as I sat down. "You can have her, dude. She's nothing but trouble. Thinks she's staying in a hotel. She was disappointed when there was no mint left on her pillow."

"Wanted you to turn down her sheets, did she?" Marshall teased, wriggling his eyebrows.

"Ladies can't resist the DW," I said, flexing my muscles. "You know they can only hold out for so long before they throw themselves at me."

"Man, I didn't see her throwing herself at you earlier. I think if she had a gun, she would have shot you."

I waved his comment off. "Some women like it rough, nothing wrong with that." They jeered for a bit longer, teasing me back and forth.

It didn't matter what they thought or said. Ariana was the last woman I wanted to fuck, even if my dick thought differently. Plus, she was a journalist. The moment I rolled out of bed she would be reporting back all kinds of inappropriate sexual conduct in the military. I didn't need that kind of bitch-crazy drama.

It was that kind of shit that got men kicked out of the military and all their pension and honors lost. I wasn't going to risk all that over a dick that wouldn't stay in my pants.

Which was what I was still trying to tell myself later on when it was late and everyone else had all gone to bed. I was lying in my bunk, staring up at the ceiling and trying to get rid of all the naked women dancing in my head.

Tits were bouncing, lips were wrapped around my cock, breathy moans were whispering in my ears, and my hands could practically feel the silky folds of cunts. Lots of juicy cunts.

My dick was as hard as a rock.

There were seven other men sharing the room with me. All sleeping in the bunks surrounding mine. The moment I started any kind of movement, the fucking springs in my cheap-ass bunk would squeak to all hell. One noise and there would be at least one person who would hear me.

It would only take one to call me out on it in the morning. The kind of release I needed meant I wasn't going to be quiet about it either. Jerking off silently wasn't going to be an option.

I couldn't stay in the bunk any longer. My cock was painfully swollen, and ignoring it wasn't going to be an option tonight. I could think of a million unsexy images and not one of them would take any of the blood away from my dick.

Climbing down from the top bunk, it squeaked and squawked just as I predicted. One of the guys snored and turned over just as I passed him. I hurried out the door as fast as I could, my cock leading the way like a compass point.

I passed a few men in the corridor, weary looking as they returned from a mission. You could always tell the ones coming off a shift from those just starting one. Apart from the cover of dust coating their skin, they wore the war in their eyes. The pain and burden was there, never far from their thoughts.

The men's bathroom was also at the end of a large arrow pointing the way. Thankfully, it was empty when I got there. I went into a stall and stripped off my clothes, hanging them on the single hook.

The water was little more than lukewarm, and that was as hot as it was going to get. It didn't matter for my purpose. The colder the better, really. I stood under it front first, the water splashing against my engorged cock as it throbbed for someone to touch it.

My hand gripped around the base before it started to slowly slide up and down the shaft. It had been so long since I'd masturbated that I involuntarily shuddered with relief.

The water in the shower would only run for two minutes before turning off automatically, so I had to be quick. Somehow, I didn't think that was going to be a problem. It had been so long since I'd had any kind of sexual action that longevity would not be a skill I'd possess on this occasion.

Without giving her permission, Ariana entered my mind. Her fiery eyes when she had challenged me over the table in the cafeteria stared at me. They had blazed with the same heat that I could imagine she possessed in the bedroom.

I bet she was a screamer.

When she came, my money was on she let everyone in earshot know about it. Her hands would grip the headboard, her breathy yelps would shatter the silence around her.

My hand fastened, pumped back and forth along my cock as it grew harder and longer. I was always proud of my big dick, happy to show it to anyone who challenged my claim. Right now, all I wanted it to do was explode so it could get back to its normal size and remain sated for a while longer.

I closed my eyes and imagined it was Ariana's mouth that was causing all the good feelings in my dick right now. It was her tongue running its length, her hands pulling on my balls and rolling them between her fingers.

I'd pay to see her on her knees. She had such a haughty attitude, thought she was such a big shot reporter, and wanted to be in charge so badly. To see her on her knees with my cock in her mouth, that would be a sight worth seeing.

My body bucked back and forth, my dick slipping between my fingers as I fought to hold on just a little bit longer. I was enjoying the visions in my head, enjoying the sexy thoughts of the reporter. The moment I came, I wouldn't be able to have them any longer or I would have the boner again.

One of my hands had to leave my balls as I braced against the wall. I clenched my teeth together as my muscles tensed so I didn't wake everyone up and give myself away.

Four months was a fucking long time.

My legs were shaking as the climax lingered on the brink. My hand went into overdrive, just pumping over the head of my cock until I couldn't take it any longer. My body was racked with the orgasm, cum spurting from the tip of my dick and mingling with the water as it swirled down the drain.

The water turned off, leaving me dripping and panting. The flow had been doing something to cover the sounds of my puffing but now it was just me and the otherwise silence in the empty room. I prayed nobody else decided they need to take a shower or a shit.

My dick was still spurting with the last of my cum as my body shuddered with the last bursts of the climax. I braced against the wall, letting out a long sigh. Masturbating was never as good as fucking a woman, but it was a necessary second.

The release had sent a barrel of endorphins coursing through my bloods, allowing me a moment of calmness I hadn't had for a long while. For just those few minutes it felt like everything was still. I'd been working up to that moment for four months and I'd only just taken off the tip of the iceberg. For now, it would have to do.

I had to clean up in the sink with paper towels and little more than a drip from the faucet. Luckily, nobody else joined me and I was able to slip back into my bunk without anyone noticing I was gone.

Thank fucking goodness for small mercies.

# Chapter 5

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

The bunks were surprisingly quiet at night. I could imagine the base was in the middle of absolutely nowhere, a remote city set up by the US military for the sole purpose of acting as a waiting place between more important posts.

What had been nothing more than sand one day was an oasis the next. It must have been a peculiar sight for the locals – if there were any. They must have felt a terrible invasion by the Westerners.

It was stories like that which had lured me to Afghanistan. I wanted to uncover them all, bring them to the world so we could hear all sides of the story, not just what the leaders of the governments wanted us to know. There were more truths than one side's opinion.

But it all seemed a world away while I was lying in the dark. The infuriating face of Corporal Watson kept swimming in front of my face. The lights were out so I couldn't actually see anything, but there wouldn't be anything in the beige room anyway. Certainly not the hot soldier.

He was probably gloating in his win, triumphant in the fact that he had silenced me in the cafeteria and my suffering would continue on for a few more days yet. He seemed like the kind of man that enjoyed the suffering of others.

Still, he was undeniably hot. I may have felt an incredible loathing for the man, but that didn't change the fact he was smoking. His body was the kind that would always look better naked than with clothes, and his intense glare could sizzle like a hotplate.

It had been so long since I'd been with a man. I was practically married to my job, which didn't give me many chances to date. I was rarely home long enough to have a relationship with my washing machine, let alone consider talking with an actual human being.

Casual sex had always been something that sounded great in principle, but there were too many variables involved. I didn't know the rules that everyone else seemed to be all over, and I didn't want to suffer the embarrassment of breaking one of them (you're not supposed to stay for breakfast???).

God, though, how overdue I was for a good fuck. It was being around men like Watson that reminded me that I was still very much a red-blooded female that did have sexual organs. They may have been covered in cobwebs, but they did need a good oiling sometimes.

My fingers had inadvertently slid down my body and had cupped my pussy. The pressure on my clit through my underwear was just enough to make me want more. Masturbating had been my only option in a long time, and I rarely bothered. Funneling my efforts into my work seemed more productive.

But I wasn't quite tired enough to fall asleep, and there was nobody else in the bunks with me. It was dark; nobody was going to find out that I was touching myself.

Plus, there wasn't anything wrong with it. Nobody liked to talk about it, nobody liked to admit they did it, but everyone did. Bringing pleasure to oneself wasn't dirty. It was just a natural act of the human body. Like brushing your teeth or clipping your toenails.

Or stroking your hair because it feels good. Or squeezing your boob, tweaking your nipples. It all felt good, and there was nothing wrong with that. Human nature couldn't be denied; it was just something that happened because we could.

My hips started to undulate under my hand before it slipped under my underpants. My fingers were between my folds and slippery with my juices before I had a chance to spread my legs. I pulled the blanket up to my waist to cover what I was doing, just in case there were hidden security cameras that I hadn't found in my earlier search.

My legs opened wide as I closed my eyes. The first image that came to mind was of Watson. I couldn't push him away again. He lingered in front of me, his smirk there in the darkness, just taunting me to come for him.

He would enjoy the fact that I was touching myself while thinking of him, unable to push his image away. I bet he'd get a real kick out it, probably egg me on from the sidelines and give me orders about how I should be touching myself.

The thought of receiving orders from him actually made everything that much more urgent. My hand on my boob squeezed it harder, pushing the nipple between the tips of my fingertips until it almost hurt with my desire.

I wanted him between my legs. The thought hit me rough and hard. I wanted the soldier to be the one thrusting into me, his fingers buried between my folds with my legs wrapped around his taut ass. I wanted to hear his manly grunts as he fought to keep it together, his cock plunging into me roughly while my panting bounced off the walls.

With all the vivid imagery going on in my head, I really didn't need to do much to reach my climax. My brain did it for me, plunging me into the chasm between sanity and insanity while the orgasm pulsed through me.

My body shuddered while the wave rippled through me, and then it stilled again while I let the euphoria take me over. It was a beautiful release as I imagined Watson holding me. His big, warm, muscled arms gently rubbing my back as we lay there together after sharing such a wild and intimate moment.

I hated having the thought, hated thinking that it would be like that. Because it wouldn't. He would get up straight afterwards, pull on his pants, and disappear out the door – perhaps with a mumbled "Thanks for the great time, baby."

My fantasies would always be greater than the real thing. That was why I was a writer. Reality was a disappointment. What was the point in that when I could always just write the way things should be and never have to experience the letdown?
* * *

We were in the military base for four days before being given the clearance required to move out. I spent the days writing, working on the articles I had started while staying in Kabul before being _rescued_ by the military.

Nobody could give me any answers about where we were or where we were going. Everything was classified and on a need-to-know basis. Apparently I was cleared for nothing and had no rights. I was to eat and sleep and shouldn't need anything further.

The word I was a reporter spread quickly, even though I had told nobody except for Corporal Watson. He really was a jerk. And now apparently a gossip too. He must have told anyone who would listen that I wasn't to be trusted.

Jerk.

I found out on the fourth day that I could have had breakfast later after getting up at six o'clock every morning to make sure I didn't miss out. I could have killed the bastard for that one too.

They talked about love at first sight and made such a big deal about it. _Hate_ at first sight, now that was something far more interesting. If there was something Corporal Watson and I shared, it was definitely that.

We left at the crack of dawn, finally saying goodbye to the base I never wanted to see again. In every single direction there was nothing but sand and mountains in the far distance. You could walk for days and die of sunburn before ever reaching civilization.

Lucky for me, the jerk decided to make himself my personal bodyguard once more. He sat beside me for the entire journey, another day of endless hours spent cooped up in the noisy and bumpy truck.

This time we drove through the night, too. The drivers rotated after a shift, making sure not to get too tired so they could stay alert and vigilant. The soldiers never stopped their surveillance, always watching in all directions out the windows.

It was easy for me to forget we were in a hostile country, but I guessed they couldn't. For just a few moments, I actually felt sorry for Corporal Jerk. As he stared out the window, his muscled body rigid and held together with his heavy armor, I wondered what he was thinking.

Did he have people at home he was missing? Did he have a family? A girlfriend? A wife? Kids? Which part of the country did he normally call home? Did he miss going to baseball games with his dad? Sunday football games in front of the television with his brothers?

My heart softened for him in those moments. He was a long way from home too, but his distance wasn't entirely by choice. He was serving his country, dedicating his life to ensure he was protecting those he loved and hoping for a better future for all. It was noble, really.

We were all just trying to do our best. I was trying to help by bringing a voice to those marginalized by the war and their country of birth. Corporal Watson was trying to be the best solider he could and protect his country. We couldn't judge others without knowing their full story. I needed to give him a break.

"If you're expecting me to give a running commentary, you're sorely mistaken. I'm not a tour guide," Watson muttered. And just like that, all the fuzzy feelings inside me hardened into a tight ball and completely evaporated.

"If this was a tour, I'd be demanding my money back," I replied, quickly averting my eyes and annoyed that I had been caught staring at him.

"So you were just enchanted by my incredible good looks, then?" He grinned and it really bothered me. Mainly because he was right. When he smiled he looked like an underwear model. As if he just stepped out of _GQ_ magazine and had been in the hair and makeup chair for hours.

"Get over yourself," I said and purposefully looked away.

He chuckled, and I could feel him looking at me, but I refused to turn back. There was no way I was going to play his little game. I'd met men like him before. They thought they were God's gift to women when really all they did was break hearts and fuck anything that moved.

Or maybe I had been right the first time, and he was gay and just enjoyed toying with women. It wouldn't be the first time I had seen that kind of display either. In my job I got to see the best of humanity, but I also had to see the worst. I couldn't take one without the other; it didn't work like that.

A couple of hours after it got dark, I couldn't hold my eyes open any longer. Sleeping upright wasn't the easiest thing on the planet, but I was exhausted. My eyelids closed and I zoned out. Maybe it was the rocking of the truck, but I somehow managed to fall asleep.

I awoke sometime later with my head leaning on something. It was dark, almost pitch black. Which was why it took me a few moments to realize it was Watson's shoulder I was leaning on. The gentle scent of his soap filled my nostrils, dominated only by the smell of sweat in the truck.

I probably should have jerked away, embarrassed that I had been sleeping against him. For some reason I didn't. Instead, my eyes closed and I fell back into the deep abyss of slumber.

The next time I awoke it wasn't voluntary. There was so much shouting that I was instantly jerked awake. Confusion washed over me, quickly replaced by an overwhelming sense of fear and terror.

It was still dark, so I couldn't really see what was going on, but all the soldiers were rushing like crazy to get out of the truck. They yelled at us to get onto the floor and stay there.

"Don't move under any circumstances unless I tell you to," Watson told me before he stepped over me and stormed down the aisle.

Across the row I could see one of the other civilians as he crouched down on the floor. His eyes were wide open with sheer terror as his body started shaking with fear. I hoped I didn't look that scared; surely there wasn't a reason to be that terrified?

The voices outside were all shouting. Not all of them were in English anymore. They got louder and louder as they argued, screaming and yelling until none of them were listening to each other.

A gunshot pierced the night air.

All the blood in my body stopped circulating, pounding in my ears alone. My heart had completely stopped in the silence outside. It was like someone had hit the pause button when the gun went off and only my imagination could fill in the gaps of what was happening out there.

I didn't dare get up and peek. Even if I wasn't scared of someone shooting my head off, I didn't want to see any carnage outside. I was squeamish at the sight of blood and that was only a drop. To see the kind of damage a gun could do would require a lot more stomach than I had.

The sounds finally started up again outside, except they weren't yelling this time. It sounded like a fight had broken out. At least they weren't fighting with their weapons now. Hand-to-hand seemed to be the way to go for the moment.

Even though I had only spent a short amount of time with the soldiers, I didn't want to see any of them hurt. The thought of them outside the truck and in serious danger was making my insides twist with pain. I couldn't bear anything happening to them.

Plus, if the Taliban got through them, our chances of survival were exactly zero. The moment they got done killing the soldiers, they would do away with us civilians. Our lives depended on them winning the fight outside.

We were in the middle of the desert, with no backup. The dangers of war just got so exceedingly real I had to fight back tears. But now was not a time to fall to pieces. I needed to stay strong and keep my head. If I didn't remain calm, I wouldn't be able to think clearly. All my wits had to be about me.

In my head I counted. It didn't matter how many times I lost where I was up to, I just started again. As long as I was distracted, it didn't matter what the numbers were. They were keeping me calm, and that was the main thing.

"Ariana." My whispered name snapped me out of my counting at about seven thousand and something. My head snapped around to the source – finally finding it at the door. Watson was there, trying to get my attention. He waved at me to come over but stay down.

I followed his direction, moving to my knees and crawling down the aisle to the back of the truck. He had a nasty cut down his cheek that almost made me vomit.

"Get the others. We have to leave. Now. Make sure they stay low and don't say a thing. Bring nothing with you," he whispered.

I nodded and returned to the others, conveying the instructions as quietly and concisely as I could. They all followed me. We made more noise as a group but we eventually all made it to the back of the truck where Watson was waiting.

He helped us out one by one, lining us up so we couldn't be seen from afar. We were joined by Marshall, Rafter, and Simon so the whole platoon was together. It was a relief to know they'd all made it through relatively unscathed. A first aid kit wouldn't have gone astray. I tried to ignore all the blood from the cuts and grazes gracing their skin.

"We need to get out of here and the truck's busted," Watson started quietly. He leaned in toward the group, and we all followed the lead to ensure we could hear everything. "There are people watching the road. If we get caught, that's it for us. Backup won't arrive in time, and these people won't hesitate in killing us. Or worse. I need you to move quickly and silently. If you can't do that, you need to tell me now."

His eyes scanned each of our terrified faces. I had never felt fear like this before, but I wasn't going to let it take over yet. I could break down when we were in a safe place. Until then I was a rock – nothing was going to touch or break me.

Watson nodded and made some hand signals to the other soldiers. They all gestured back and then started moving. Each of the soldiers walked with a civilian at their side, sticking to the buddy system I remembered from elementary school.

My buddy was Watson. The men were teamed up with the other soldiers.

If there was someone I would choose as my personal bodyguard, it would have been him. I wanted his body as close to mine as possible.

Even in a life-or-death situation.

# Chapter 6

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

Our mission had gone to hell in a handbasket. Not only had the Taliban wrecked our truck, but they had almost gotten the better of us too.

We could have died back there.

If it hadn't been for Marshall's quick thinking and getting that first shot off, we would have been worm bait on the ground, and our families would have received the call they always dreaded.

There were more of them out there now. They were always hiding. Around every corner, beyond every hill, hidden in every heartbeat. They waited, and they had the sole intention of killing every last one of us.

And they did it without remorse.

Or mercy.

If they got their hands on Ariana, I wouldn't be able to handle it. It was the military that had brought her into this situation, and it was our responsibility to get her home alive. It was my duty to make sure that happened.

Just my duty, nothing more.

We walked, every fucking thing sounding like another member of the Taliban coming to get us. That fucker had come out of nowhere when we'd been driving. One minute we'd been fine and the next it was game over.

That was all it would take to end it all. I'd seen it too many times in my deployment. Too many times in this tour alone. I didn't want to end up like all the others, and I certainly couldn't stand by and let it happen to Ariana. She was a civilian; she wasn't part of this war.

The whole time we moved I tried to think of a better plan. We needed transport, we needed shelter, and we needed to establish communication with base. All things that the truck would have provided if the fucker hadn't blown out the engine and all the electronics. He knew what he was doing, knew exactly how the system worked. It was so much like an inside job it was almost too close to home.

It wouldn't be long before the sun started to rise and then the heat would be overwhelming. The civilians wouldn't be used to those conditions. They didn't have the kind of training my troops did. They wouldn't be able to withstand the conditions for too long.

A troop was only as strong and capable as its weakest member, and we were dealing with people that had no idea what they had just stepped into. This wasn't going to end well for any of us until I came up with a plan.

I needed a fucking plan.

They were all relying on me, and I was at dire risk of letting them down. That wasn't going to happen; I wasn't going to let it. This was not going to be a monumental fuck-up to end all fuck-ups. I was not going to end up in the history books as the guy who let his troop and six civilians end up dead.

But first I needed a fucking plan.

With the first rays of sunlight making their appearance and showing the golden depths of the sand, the road underneath our feet was starting to change. It had turned from clay to brick. Just a subtle change at first, but it was growing more apparent the further we walked.

We were heading into a city. The road was getting better, which could be a good thing or a bad thing. If we had troops in the city, we could make contact and they could link up to our superiors. Then I could make a full report and wait for further instructions.

If we didn't have a presence in the city, it could get ugly. The civilians would be fearful of us, and any members of the Taliban would instantly want to kill us. It wasn't like we could blend into the crowd by any means. Our uniforms made us stand out a mile away, instantly identifying us as the enemy – or foreigners, at least.

Small houses started to come into view, and that's when I decided we needed to stop. We huddled by the first brick fence we came across. "We're going to have to split up and go in covertly," I started. "We stay to the back alleys and try to determine if there are any troops. Either way, we'll meet back here in two hours."

"Got it, boss," Marshall replied, echoed by the others.

We split off in pairs, each of us taking our civilian partners with us. I would have liked for them to stay together somewhere while we went on the recon mission, but it just wasn't safe enough. It would have meant leaving them as sitting ducks, and I wasn't prepared to do that. At least with us they had a chance of being defended.

Ariana never said a word of complaint the entire way, surprising me. I'd expected her to whine continually, but she never said a peep. Maybe I'd misjudged her, but more likely, she was just too scared to say anything.

Just like I'd said, we stuck to the back alleyways and kept out of sight. Ariana was dressed much more like a local than I was in my uniform and armor. On a few occasions she ducked ahead to peek around a corner and cleared it before I went ahead. Nobody looked twice at her while they would have stared at me.

She actually came in handy.

And she still hadn't complained once.

We reached the center of the town, the market in full swing with people selling food and goods in open stalls. People bustled around while we watched from afar. There were no soldiers in Army fatigues, absolutely no US military presence anywhere.

This was not an Army-friendly town. Either we hadn't yet reached it, or the Taliban still held to it tightly. Depending on which way they swayed, it could make the difference between getting killed and making it out safely. There was no telling if we'd be able to make it to the next town or how far away it was. We needed to make use of the facilities here to contact base, or we might not get another chance.

Sudden a commotion broke out across the market square, and everyone started running or yelling. I couldn't see what the melee was, but I could guess.

My instincts were to get over there and help one of my buddies out before it escalated. Everything in me told me to hurry.

But before I could move, there was an explosion. A burst of orange, red, and yellow embers flew through the square like a huge fireworks display. Heat radiated out from the ball as hot as the sun, covering the place like an instant blanket.

Everyone screamed and crouched down, trying to avoid the licking of the flames. I pulled Ariana next to me, leaning over her and covering her body with mine to shield her from the impact. Hot embers from the explosion made little pinpricks in my uniform.

Her breath was on my neck as she gasped, fear making her lungs really try for every bit of air she sucked in. She hadn't been in this kind of situation before; I had to keep remembering that. Her instincts were different from mine. She didn't know to react like I did. I had to make sure to protect her.

"What—" she started to say. I silenced her, pressing a finger to my lips in a shushing motion. Her little pink mouth snapped shut again.

While people ran everywhere, I pressed Ariana to the wall and held her there. My body was acting as a buffer between her and the flames, making sure there was a barrier separating the two. I was biding my time, waiting to see if there would be follow-up action or only one explosion in the square today.

Once the initial screams died down, it started to grow quiet, with only the crackle of the fire and snapping of wooden structures succumbing to the flames infiltrating the air.

It was time to make a move. "Stay really close to me and follow all my orders," I whispered in Ariana's ear. For once I knew she would obey and not question everything I told her to do.

She nodded and I pushed away from her, my eyes scanning her body for any signs of injury. She was still sexy as all fuck but didn't appear to be hurt in any way.

I started walking, sticking to the wall on the side of the alley and constantly scanning the area for dangers. Every one of the people I saw could have been a Taliban member, ready to slice my head off. Any of them could have been willing to alert others to my presence there.

I was also looking for my comrades. They were all in this tiny town somewhere, and I was certain they had to have heard the explosion too. It would have attracted them like moths to a flame, just like me now. I needed to know whether they were safe and what they had uncovered about the place.

Then I saw him.

The first member of the Taliban.

My gut instincts were in overdrive, he had to be a member. He was wearing a long tunic and staring straight at me. His eyes were as dark as black oil, openly glaring at me with the hatred of a hundred enemies.

I pushed Ariana into the nearest cross street. "Run!" I yelled at her, harsher than I intended.

Footsteps pounded on the dusty road behind me, not just one set but many. I missed the weight of my gun in my hands. If I'd had that, I wouldn't need to be fleeing like a fucking sewer rat. I wasn't a coward, I would have gladly stayed to fight the sons of bitches, but I couldn't do that with Ariana by my side, her life at risk. They would have immediately attacked her before even trying for me.

The girl could run, probably did Pilates or some bullshit hipster exercising like that. Whatever it was, I was grateful for it in that moment. There was nothing I liked more about a girl than one that could keep up.

Except maybe big tits and a tight cunt.

And a mouth that sucked on more than just lollipops.

I tugged Ariana's arm and pulled her around a corner at the last moment, trying to shake the motherfuckers behind us. This town obviously wasn't a friendly one. We were the enemy here, and they would show us no mercy.

The town was a labyrinth of streets, all smelling like shit and as dusty as the middle of the desert. I had no idea where we were, but we kept going until we gained enough distance so we could hide.

Ariana collided with my chest as I held her against me in the tiny alcove between two buildings. Her brow was covered in sweat as she looked up at me. I tried to provide some kind of comfort in the small smile I offered her, but I didn't succeed. It was difficult to think anything but the worst in the current situation.

But try telling my dick that. Even with the threat of being caught by the enemy and dying a violent death on the table, my cock was still starkly aware of the fact that a sexy woman had her body pressed up against mine. And when she shifted just slightly to the left, her hip grazed my dick just enough to make me want her to do it again.

And fucking again.

We stood pressed up against one another for longer than we probably needed to. Surprisingly, not because of the dick situation, but because I wanted to be certain the Taliban weren't waiting around the corner to ambush us the moment we let our guards down.

I pressed my finger to my lip in the shushing signal again so Ariana would remain silent while I peeked around the corner. It appeared to be all clear. I risked a few steps, and it looked like we'd managed to lose them.

We needed to get back to the meeting point so we could get out of town. Now that the Taliban knew the US military were around, they would be out hunting us down. Distance was the only way to get out alive now.

Ariana and I crept around the streets, staying in the shadows and moving to the outskirts again. The whole mission into the town center seemed like a fool's errand now, but at least I had gotten the answer I was searching for: nobody was going to help us.

We finally made it back to our rendezvous point and waited by the brick fence. There were no signs of the other men being back there at all.

We waited so long it started to get dark. Nobody came.

"I'm hungry," Ariana said. It was the first thing she had muttered in hours. "Do you have any food?" She looked at me hopefully.

"No, I don't. Sorry."

"Do you think they're coming back?"

Fuck the woman and all her questions. "They're supposed to."

"That wasn't what I asked."

"How the fuck do I know if they're coming back?" I snapped. "In case you haven't noticed, I don't have a fucking crystal ball on me."

"Geez, you don't have to be like that, you know," she replied. "Jerk."

"Well, what did you expect me to say? Yeah, sure, they'll be here in six minutes and fifteen seconds. Hold tight and start the countdown."

"I was trying to make conversation. In case you haven't noticed, it's really scary right now. I'm hungry, I'm tired, and I'm scared witless. So excuse me if I was hoping the only person I trusted just a little bit would be able to hold a discussion for just a few minutes."

She crossed her arms and faced the wall. My eyes automatically went to her round ass and checked it out. It was an automatic reaction. A woman turned around, you checked out her ass. It didn't matter how angry she was at you.

I let her seethe for a few minutes, get it out of her system. It was starting to get dark, and I needed to have a plan for the night. The Taliban never seemed to sleep; they'd be out in the darkness just like they were in the daytime.

"We need to find a place to stay for the night. If we're lucky, we can find some food too," I said. "We're going to have to keep moving."

"Fine. Let's go."

I pulled a notepad out of my pocket and jotted down a quick message, making sure it was vague enough that my men would understand it but the enemy would never be able to use it against us. I squeezed it between some loose stones.

On our way in I'd noticed a few run-down houses off the main road. They could have still been inhabited, but they looked like they were about to fall down so I took the chance they were abandoned and started heading for them.

Ariana diligently walked with me, trying to keep up even though her legs had to be hurting her. She'd been through a lot today and was still going when most other women would have fallen in a heap hours ago.

I wasn't sure if it was out of determination or stubbornness that she continued on. I'd never met a woman like her before. My dick certainly approved, but I wasn't sure if my head did. Women that headstrong tended to spell out trouble with a capital T in my experience.

Ariana reeked of nothing but Trouble.

The first house had laundry hanging out the back, so we skipped it after stealing some food. The second house had no windows and no door and was overrun with rats, so I was placing my money on it being abandoned.

Inside, the walls were sturdy enough and it had half a roof. We would be able to shelter there for a night without being too exposed to the desert elements and the stark drop in temperature.

After the rats were scared away, it really wasn't too bad. The former tenants had left some furniture, including a couch, a rusty bed frame, and a chest of drawers. They were on the second level, away from the rats and other rodents that would have otherwise destroyed them.

"The couch doesn't look too bad," Ariana said as she sat down. "Actually, I could probably sleep anywhere. My feet are killing me."

I handed her the pilfered food – a loaf of bread. "You'll be sleeping under me when it starts to get cold out here tonight."

"I don't think it will ever get that cold."

"Sure it will, babe."

"You're very full of yourself, aren't you? You really think you're God's gift to women."

"You said it." I grinned, purely because I knew she didn't like it when I did that. It was too easy to rile Ariana up. With the shit day we'd had, we needed this kind of release.

I got the feeling that if she'd had a cushion she would have thrown it at me. "Does that work on women, seriously?"

"I get by just fine, thanks for asking."

"You must have a really big penis," she said, completely taking me by surprise. I almost choked on my tongue.

"What makes you say that?"

"You certainly act like you've got something to be proud of."

"I can show you anytime, babe." I moved to pull down the zipper on my trousers, expecting her to stop me. But she didn't. Instead, she raised her eyebrow to challenge me to do it.

Well... if that's what the woman wanted, who was I to deny her? I unzipped my pants and let her see the bulge in my underwear. Considering the conversation we were having, and the fact I was easily excited anyway, the lump was sizable.

"You can touch it too, if you want the whole experience," I said, wiggling my hip. She laughed, not exactly the reaction I was expecting. Any moment now I expected her to tell me to put it away, stop acting like a jerk.

Instead, Ariana was looking at me like she wanted to see more. After looking the Taliban in the face today and surviving another round with them, I was ready to throw all caution to the wind and do whatever the fuck I wanted to do.

And I really wanted to fuck the sexy reporter.

Fuck her until my dick fell off.

# Chapter 7

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

I could have died today.

Several times.

If it hadn't been for Corporal Watson and all his skills, I probably would have. There was nothing more that I wanted than his sweaty body covering mine and whatever was causing that giant bulge in his pants to be inside my pussy.

I didn't want to die tomorrow without experiencing sex one last time. I couldn't leave this earth without knowing what it was like to have Watson's cock thrusting inside me.

I licked my lips and sat up straighter on the musty old couch. It wasn't the ideal place for a night of unbridled passion, but I didn't think I was going to be noticing the décor for much longer. Not when I was about to free his naked body from his clothes.

Looking up Watson's body from my position, my gaze traveled all the way up until we locked eyes. His baby blues were sparkling with excitement, burning with intensity, and raging with need. I got the feeling he wanted this just as much as I did.

Maybe even more.

The first thing I did was take him up on his offer. I outstretched my hand and cupped his bulging underpants. They were black, and just one of my hands wasn't enough to cover the bulge. It was a two-hand job, with the mass growing harder as I applied some pressure to my grasp.

"I need to confess something," Watson said suddenly as he sharply inhaled.

I didn't let him go, making sure I kept his package in my hands as I innocently looked up again. "By all means, confess."

"I've been in Afghanistan for a while."

"And?"

"I haven't been home between tours."

"So?"

He rolled his eyes, like there was something I should have understood between the lines. "I work with men."

Finally, awareness dawned, and I involuntarily laughed. "Oh. You mean you haven't had sex in a while? That's okay, I haven't either. I work, a lot. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"That wasn't why I was telling you." He purposefully looked between me and my hands, still cupping his bulge. Apparently I wasn't getting that either. He decided on the more direct approach. "I'm going to come inside you after fucking you senseless tonight. If you keep doing that with your hands, you're going to miss out on that pleasure. I don't think you want to do that."

"Oh, right." I let go, noticing the wet stain of precum that had already seeped onto his underwear. He really was starved for some hot sex. I could probably have gotten him to come just by massaging him a little.

"Stand up," he ordered, using the same military-style voice I'd seen him use on his platoon.

I wanted to defy him, but it was also kind of really sexy just doing what he said. I stood, letting him be _my_ corporal for the night. Even if his pants were undone and his erection was on display through the thin fabric of his underpants.

"Take off my clothes," he said.

He had a lot of clothes on. Over his uniform were his armor – flap jackets of Kevlar and his utility belt. He had been wearing a helmet too, but that was the first to come off when we'd arrived in the town. His sweaty brown hair was still matted to his head.

I saluted him and started on the belt first, making my way around his body while he stood and watched. He didn't help at all, waiting until I figured it all out and unclothed him piece by piece.

His chiseled body slowly revealed itself to me. First was his chest, just as muscled as I'd expected it would be. His abs were sculptured, so much so I couldn't resist running my finger along the lines and making him shudder. I wanted to lick those ridges and couldn't wait until I got the opportunity to.

His pants slid down his thick legs, muscled to perfection in all the right ways. Watson's body was one of someone that spent hours in training, both in the gym and out in the real world. He ran, lifted weights, and no doubt did obstacle courses until he could do them in his sleep.

He was buff, toned, and able to do with me whatever he liked. I was ready to let him, too, give myself over to him and trust that he would only bring me pleasure and nothing more.

Watson's underpants were the final thing to come off. I stood in front of him and gave him a moment to wait, hoping the anticipation would make it sweeter. His bulge had grown while I'd taken my time undressing him. Initially I'd wanted to tear his clothes off him but building the desire slowly drew it out so it burned hotter.

"What's your name?" I asked, the thought suddenly occurring to me that I didn't know what it was. Even though I was far from home, I wasn't prepared to fuck a man without knowing his first name.

"Corporal Watson," he gruffly replied.

"Come on, you aren't even going to tell me your name?"

I tugged on the edges of his underpants, giving him some incentive to divulge the information I desired. It wasn't like I was asking for his deepest or dirtiest secrets. Just a name, that was all.

I chewed my lip chewed as I toyed with the elastic of his waistband. His eyes were devouring me; he was just seconds away from breaking.

I flicked the band, and he flinched. "God, woman, it's Derrick. My name is Derrick. Just take my fucking pants off and get my dick out before I explode."

"Now was that so difficult?" I asked as I whipped his pants off. He didn't get a chance to answer before I grabbed his cock with both my hands. I needed to feel the silky skin with my own fingertips, caress the sensitive nerves and make him shudder from my touch.

He had every right to be proud of his manhood. His cock was easily the largest I'd seen. He didn't even compare with the few porn movies I'd watched with my college roommates for a laugh. He was large, and I bet he knew exactly how to use it too.

Derrick placed his hands around mine and removed them, holding them up in the air and stepping closer to me. His lips started on my neck, taking his time to kiss every piece of me. Even in the heat of the desert, with my skin covered in dried sweat, he managed to cover me with goose bumps.

The little pimples dotted my skin, making me shiver with the way he kissed me in all the right places. The whiskers from his beard stubble tickled, combining with the nerves and making me giggle in the moonlight.

Derrick turned me around and pulled my back against his naked chest. As I looked up, all I could see was the stars twinkling in the crystal-clear night sky outside. Directly above us was a roof, but it only covered half the room. The rest was exposed to the beautiful night.

He continued to cover my neck with kisses, his hot lips pressing onto my skin and making my belly shudder with desire. A fire was growing deep below, yearning for the man to touch me in the most intimate of places.

Derrick's hands started to wander. They grabbed at my boobs through my loose blouse, squeezing and kneading at my breasts and almost bringing me to my knees. I leaned back onto him, all the breath knocked from my lungs.

"You've got awesome tits, babe," Derrick growled in my ear. "I can't wait to suck on them."

He started to undo the buttons on my blouse, working his way downwards while nuzzling at my neck. My hands felt backwards until they reached his hips, holding on to him there so I didn't crumble to the floor. He was sturdy and strong under my grip, able to hold me up no matter how shaky my legs were.

The final button popped free and he worked the blouse down my shoulders. He kissed my skin the entire way, making sure no part of me went without his attention. We had all night to explore one another's body and it seemed like we were going to use every one of those minutes.

Derrick stepped around me, his gorgeously sexy naked body taking me by surprise every time I caught a glimpse of it. I didn't want to openly stare but I couldn't help it. A body that looked like that deserved to be openly gaped at. It was a crime not to stare.

And Derrick enjoyed it. He was a peacock, strutting around and on show for me, his proud cock erect and waiting for some action. I couldn't wait to give him some of that action. I wanted that cock nestled between my legs, thrusting as hard as possible.

His body was suddenly on mine, pressed up against me with his lips crushed against my lips. I opened my mouth to him, his tongue plunging in and owning me. He robbed me of my breath, kissing me so deeply it was like our bodies were merging into one.

His strong arms wrapped around me, finding their way down my back and undoing the clasp of my bra. It fell away as he released his grip just enough so it could do just that. His heated palm cupped my breast, rolling the nipple between his fingers until my pussy throbbed so hard that I whimpered with need.

My lips were released, only for my nipple to surrender to his mouth. He sucked on my boob, his tongue swirling around my nipple and sending lightning bolts shooting out in myriad of directions. Every part of my body felt alive and awakened. All the fear I had felt consumed with the entire day was melting away. If this was my last night on earth, I was going to leave it satisfied.

Oh, so satisfied.

My hands cradled Derrick's head as he suckled on my tits, switching from one to the other while he kneaded the one not in his mouth with his hand. I never wanted him to leave my chest. He could live in my bosom and I would have been happy for the rest of my life.

"God, Derrick," I moaned.

He looked up at me, my breast hanging from his mouth while he smiled. He let it fall out of his lips slowly, reluctantly. "I'm only getting warmed up, babe. This is nothing."

He sucked hard on my nipple again, biting down on it just enough to walk the line between pleasure and pain before standing up to his full height. "These pants need to come off. You're wearing way too much clothes."

Before I could even begin to process what he was doing, he had reached down and pulled off my slacks and panties in one swift movement. I was just as naked as he was in no time.

He openly appraised me, his eyes roving over my skin from head to toe and back again. For just a moment I felt self-conscious, but the desire and fire burning in his eyes told me I didn't need to be. He wanted me; he found me sexy. There was nothing I needed to cover from his view.

"You're a sexy woman, aren't you?" he growled.

"If you say so."

"You think you can handle it?"

"Handle what?" I asked, a little confused. Derrick wasn't like any other man I'd been with before. He was too full of himself, though it seemed to be working for him tonight. My pussy certainly approved of everything he did.

"The way I'm going to throw you onto that couch and fuck you."

An involuntary shiver ran down my spine. God, he was sexy when he was insanely arrogant. I didn't want to be turned on by it, but I couldn't help myself. I loved it, all of it. "Bring it on, buddy," I replied.

Like a trigger going off in his brain, Derrick snapped. The gloves were off now. He threw himself against me, pulling me against his body until we were two parts of a flame dancing together as one.

Our limbs entangled until I lost track of where I ended and he began. We wrapped around one another, completely lost in the passion as Derrick kissed my neck, my jaw, my lips, my nose, my forehead, everywhere within reach.

He pushed me backwards until my legs hit the couch. I fell back, Derrick coming with me as we crashed down together. The couch was still warm from the heat of the day, wrapping around us like a blanket while the air was cooling.

Not that we really noticed the weather. It could have been raining with hail and thunder and we wouldn't have noticed.

With me on my back, Derrick pushed up until he was straddling me. With a wicked gleam in his eyes that told me he was thinking wicked thoughts, he started shuffling down my body.

The moonlight shadowed his face but I could still see his expression and I thought for sure I could read his thoughts. He had nothing good on his mind, nothing clean, that's for sure.

"What are you doing?" I asked dubiously.

"Never you mind, babe. Just close your eyes and enjoy the ride."

His cock was hard and had to be painful being so erect. Whatever he was about to do, surely it wouldn't delay his own gratification for too long. I did as he directed and closed my eyes, waiting to see what kind of ride he was about to take me on.

He made his way down my body until he was just past my pussy. He spread my legs apart, holding one up until it hooked over the back of the couch. The other went over the side until I was wide open for him.

My pussy felt the cool breeze for the first time. It was already soaking wet, the night air touching the dampness and telling me exactly how wet I was. I was ready for Derrick's cock, no matter how big and wide it was. It would fit, I was certain of it.

His fingers traced circles around the top of my thigh, purposefully avoiding my pussy. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from begging for him to touch me. He was teasing me and I couldn't take it for much longer. As sweet as the torture was, it was too much to bear.

The circles started to get tighter and smaller until they dragged onto the sensitive skin of my clit. Finally, I started to get the relief I was seeking. He used another finger, making it two as he massaged my clit. Tight circles made their way around my nub, the bundle of nerves contracting and tightening as they prepared to explode with happiness.

I was so close. He was taking me to the brink and holding me ransom there until he was ready to send me over the edge.

I started writhing on the couch, unable to keep still. "Derrick, I can't... oh... it's so good..."

He laughed, letting out a breathy growl as he tickled my clit and enjoyed the pleasure he was giving me. It was supposed to be him that was the one ready to explode. I'd thought I would be the one able to hold on for longer.

But his fingers, they were just magical. They were playing me like a piano and I was powerless to stop him in his pursuit. Not that I wanted him to stop. In fact, I wanted him to go faster. I wanted to plunge off that edge and go flying into the sweet oblivion I knew was waiting for me.

"Faster, Derrick. Please, harder."

He kept up the same pace, just long enough to play with me a little longer. Then he really got going. It only took a few second of quick circles and the orgasm took me over.

I whimpered as the pleasure washed over me. Derrick lay beside me, his hands rubbing along my skin as he let me be lost in the happiness of my climax for those few moments.

Everything in me hummed with happiness and calmness as I lay there with him beside me. It was a beautiful moment of release, and I was awash with emotion that Derrick had done that for me. He could have easily plunged between my legs and fucked me, chasing only his orgasm. But he had taken care of me first and delayed his own gratification.

Perhaps it was all the good-time endorphins coursing through my body, but I was suddenly rushed with admiration for him. I wanted to pay back the favor, show him how much I appreciated the gesture.

I wanted him so badly in that moment. My pussy was on fire again, ready to prove to him that I could give just as much pleasure as he could. I wanted to rock his world, make his orgasm twice as pleasurable as mine had been.

I opened my eyes to see him watching me, his eyes still burning with desire. "Enjoy that, babe? Because there's plenty more where that came from." He wiggled his fingers at me and I now knew exactly what they were capable of.

"I think it's your turn," I replied.

"Don't worry about me. I'm going to get mine. I'm about to climb on top of you and fuck you until you scream. None of this quiet whimpering shit. You're not going to be able to contain yourself."

"Oh, really?"

"Don't ask so many questions, woman." Derrick gave me that devastatingly sexy smile and wasted no more time with chitchat. He climbed on top of me, settling between my legs.

His thick cock pressed onto my pussy as he slid it along my clit. It was heavy, hot, and hard. His hips moved up and down, covering himself with my juices so he was prepared to slide inside.

My legs twined around his so we were linked together. Every time he moved, our bodies rocked as one. He shifted his hips and positioned his cock at my entrance.

I braced myself, ready to take his girth as he started pushing in. There was nothing to worry about as his cock glided into my pussy. He thrust in, inching in further and further until he was buried deep within me. Finally, we were connected as Derrick stretched me to my limits.

Derrick started grunting with the effort as his hips thrust and his cock moved in and out of me. One of his fingers delved between us, toying with my clit again and bringing me back to the brink of the great beyond once more.

We weren't going to last very long. Just as Derrick had warned so long ago, we were both starved of sexual activity, it wasn't going to take much effort for us to get off and come. Derrick was a man just made for having sex anyway; he didn't need much more than a woman's body to make it happen.

Every part of me screamed with the sheer joy of our bodies moving together and creating such pleasure that it was impossible not to feel the heat of our desire. The fire was pooling deep in my belly, ready to be unleashed at any moment.

Derrick was fighting with his own ability to keep it together. Sweat was beading on his forehead as his expression was set in one of determination. He was grunting, lost in the act of thrusting his cock in and out of my pussy.

The heat was rising, and everything in me was singing and just waiting for that one moment. Derrick tugged on my clit and it came suddenly, the orgasm nothing like before. This one tore me apart, bringing me to my knees and making my heart explode with a series of poundings I thought would make my ribs crack apart.

He growled with his own orgasm, trying not to scream too loudly as he let the rush of happiness ripple through his body. It was a moment where we were lost together, taken away on a cloud and happy never to return again.

Every part of me was alive and reveling in the beautiful release of the climax. Even as the blood rushed through my veins, they hummed with electricity and happiness. I felt invincible, and the man on top of me had been responsible for the whole thing.

He wasn't my normal type, but if he could do that with his cock, he had changed my mind forever. I couldn't go back to the men I had been dating before. I need all this rugged manliness; otherwise I was going to be disappointed.

Derrick rolled to the side and pulled me against him, his cock still inside me. Our heavy breaths were still making our lungs heave as we fought to gather ourselves together. It didn't matter how long it took, we still had all night. As long as nobody came looking for us here, we might just make it to see another sunrise.

My leg hooked around him, holding us together still. Our bodies molded together easily, warm and sweat-kissed in the still night air.

Under any other circumstances it would have been beautiful in our desert oasis. But lingering in the back of my mind was still the reason why we were here. I couldn't stop listening out for any sounds that could mean imminent danger, and I was certain Derrick's senses were more acutely attuned than mine.

I snuggled into the crook of his shoulder as his arms wrapped around me. Even with all the threats of war lingering just outside the crumbled walls I felt safe there within his grasp.

Derrick wouldn't let anything hurt me. I trusted him to care for me; I placed my life in the palm of his hands. He wouldn't do anything to put me at risk. How I could be so certain of that when I had only met him a few days earlier was beyond my comprehension. Maybe I was just being foolish in my postcoital glow.

He started stroking my hair absentmindedly, and my eyelids started to get droopy with a need for sleep. It had been a long day. As much as I wanted to savor it for as long as possible, sleep beckoned.

My eyes closed involuntarily as I fell asleep in my beautiful lover's arms.

# Chapter 8

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

The only light to illuminate her face came from the moon. It was perched so high in the inky-black sky that it was like it was trying to run away.

I knew how it felt.

If I could have created a door that could transport us back to civilization I would have done it. But I didn't believe in fucking magic. Reality was hard enough to slap you in the face and that was the only thing I believed in.

Ariana looked like a fucking angel even in that faraway moonlight. Her eyelids fluttered as she dreamed about something. I hoped it was something good and none of the shit that was going on at the moment. She didn't deserve to be caught up in the war. What had she been thinking coming to Afghanistan in the first place? She should never have stepped on board that plane, never have left her comfortable life back home.

Still, it was that part of her that made my dick hard when I thought about it. Ariana was a fighter. She wasn't like the women I'd picked up in bars at closing time. She was feisty, she wasn't afraid of things, she took on challenges that most people – both men and women – would have run from.

My cock approved.

Even when she was asleep, she turned me on. I wanted to wake her up and fuck her hard. My cock was never going to tire of being inside her. Even when it got soft and slipped out of her tight cunt, given a few minutes and one glance at that shadowed face, I was ready to roll again.

She was going to be the death of me. I'd never fallen this hard or fast for a chick before, and I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I couldn't get attached to her. Not when we were in the middle of a war zone and it was my responsibility to get her out of there alive.

Fucking her was stupid. You didn't fuck the target; you didn't get involved with the one you were supposed to be protecting. The target of a mission was sacred, and getting involved made things complicated and messy, which led to mistakes.

I knew better. I'd made the mistake before, and I'd seen better men than me fall because of lesser errors. I was on a course for failure and now it was up to me to make sure it didn't happen again.

We would have tonight together but that was all. Tomorrow it would be back to business. She would have to understand. If not, she could hate me for it. She would thank me later when I returned her home alive and in one piece.

I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep, one ear open the entire night. The enemy were everywhere at all times.
* * *

The heat of the desert woke me up. It was only five a.m. but already late in terms of getting moving. The locals would already be up, rising with the sun to get their work done before it grew too hot.

We needed to get moving. The plan was to steal a car if I could find one. The boys in my troop would be thinking the same thing. Our best chance now was to make our way back to the nearest base independently. If we managed to find each other along the way then it would be an added bonus.

If we couldn't find a car, then we would be walking and trying to stay out of sight. Ariana was going to hate me today and it wasn't something I was going to enjoy. I wanted her to wake up and get it over with.

She was still naked as she lay on the couch, scrunched up into a tight ball despite the heat. Her ass was a work of art, screaming out to be spanked until it was pink. It was definitely going to be difficult keeping my hands off her from here on out.

I dressed and she continued to sleep, nothing at all seeming to make her stir awake. There was nothing more I could do, I was going to have to wake her up. I slapped her on the bottom, making her jump.

She shot up into a sitting position, automatically covering her tits with her arm. "What the hell?"

"It's time to go. Get dressed."

"You couldn't have just shaken me?" Even with messy hair and with sleep in the corner of her eyes, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. My dick was ready to fuck her at a moment's notice.

"Where would the fun be in that?" I asked with a grin. "You need to hurry. It's late and we're already behind. We need to go."

She started to gather all her clothes and put them on. It was a shame, really. Ariana looked a lot better naked than she did clothed. "Are you always this delightful in the morning?"

"Do I need to remind you where we are and what's at stake?" I felt like a dick talking to her like I was, but it had to be done. I wasn't her Romeo and this wasn't a fairy tale. We were in fucking Afghanistan and we had to remember that. Everyone here wanted to kill us and they wouldn't hesitate to go through with it. We couldn't afford to have stars in our eyes.

Not even for a moment. Because it was that moment that got you killed.

Ariana shot me the look that I had been expecting, the one that had an equal mix of loathing, hurt, and confusion in it. She finished getting dressed in silence and stood when ready. "Let's go, then."

We crept out of the house as I surveyed the area. It seemed clear, but I knew better than to take things at their face value.

Carefully, we continued on along the road, staying just off the main track and hiding whenever a car came along.

An empty house provided some food and a change of clothes. The outfit we pilfered was traditional garb so we could fit in. My linen pants were loose and too short while Arian's long dress was tight enough that I could still see her curves. The scarf around her head framed her gorgeous face but couldn't cover the sexy glint in her eyes. As long as nobody looked too closely, we could fit in as locals from a distance. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do to disguise our Western faces. I didn't like leaving my uniform behind, but there was nothing I could do about it. My superiors would understand.

Being in better clothes helped our journey go smoother. We didn't have to hide so much when we entered villages, so we could often buy food instead of having to steal it, and we could freely walk around and search for US soldiers. As long as nobody looked too closely at our faces we could get away with it.

All the small villages we passed through had no military presence. The discreet questions I'd asked had come up empty, with nobody able to tell me anything about any soldiers in the area. We had no choice except to keep going.

Ariana tried to talk about our passionate night together only a few times over the following week. Every time she did I told her it was a onetime deal, just a way to pass the time in the desert where there was no television reception.

She hated my guts.

It killed me every time I had to hurt her that way, but it was best all around. When I finally got us back to base and placed her on a plane headed back to the US, it would make things easier. She would have no hesitation about saying goodbye to me and wouldn't think twice about me again.

She could tell all her friends about the bastard soldier who'd fucked her in the desert and then ignored her for a week. They could cluck their tongues and agree with her about the way all men are the same and deserve to die a slow death.

It was much better this way.

Better to be angry with me than dead.

Even my dick had to agree with that logic. Despite the fact that every time I caught a glimpse of the way her tits strained against the linen fabric of her dress or the way she chewed on her bottom lip when she was angry, my cock throbbed with hunger. There were so many dirty thoughts going through my head, it would take a full bar of soap just to make them clean again.

Finally, after walking seemingly hundreds of miles and taking a bus crowded with people for endless hours, we entered the town of Jorm. I knew we would be able to find US soldiers there.

Unfortunately, the city was also overrun with rebels. We had to avoid them and get to a safe area or we would be toast. And I hadn't brought Ariana all this way just to get her killed at the finish line.

We climbed off the bus at the station, all exiting the vehicle in a mass wave. There had to be a hundred people riding on a bus built to move only fifty at a time. I held on tight to Ariana's hand, determined not to lose her in the crush.

The town of Jorm was full of buildings no more than a couple of stories high. The streets were covered with the same dusty red sand of the desert, blown in with the roaring winds that picked up every afternoon and blew throughout the night.

Women in the traditional burqas and brightly colored dresses bustled through the streets while men lingered for longer in groups, watching everyone and everything. They were as eagle-eyed as the soldiers, always wary and curious about what was going on in their territory.

There were no allies anywhere to be seen. If there was a military presence here, it wasn't in this area. I couldn't see any of the Taliban either, which didn't mean they weren't around. It may have looked like an ordinary Afghan town, but I knew better than to let my guard down.

"We should find a place to stay for the night," I said quietly in Ariana's ear. My grip had moved to her arm as I held her close. "We have to pretend to be married. Think you can do that?" she nodded as I pushed her along.

It may have looked like I was manhandling her if I was on US soil, but here it was normal. I wasn't hurting her, I would never do that, but I was making sure it was known that she was my property.

We'd been roughing it for the last week, sleeping wherever we could in back alleys and quiet corners of the towns. We both looked like we had slept in dirt and that was going to start bringing us more attention than we needed. A shower and a proper night's sleep was overdue.

We walked until I found a small hotel I could afford. As a general rule I didn't carry much cash on me when I was on duty. It wasn't really needed. Credit cards weren't exactly in abundance over here so it didn't leave many options in the luxury department. If I didn't get back to base soon we were going to have to beg for our supper.

"A room for you and your wife?" the man at the desk asked. He had beady eyes, and he kept looking at Ariana with a grin I didn't like. Another few minutes and I was going to knock him out.

"Yes, for me and my wife," I replied through gritted teeth. At least he spoke English; that was about his only redeeming quality.

"She is very pretty."

"Yes, she is. The room, please."

He eyed me, pursing his lips and raising his chin in the air. I got the feeling the dislike was mutual. He took back the door key, twisting it between his fingers.

Ariana shifted between us. "We're kind of in a hurry. You see, we came a long way and I'm very tired. My husband here is trying to make sure I have plenty of rest. I'm expecting our first child," she said, not missing a beat. She even managed to bat her eyelids at both me and the hotel guy. "May we have the key so I can rest?"

The guy smiled at her, an actual, genuine smile. "Of course, madam. Here it is. The room is just down the hall. Get some sleep."

"Thank you so much." She took the key and started walking. All I could do was follow.

We didn't speak again until we were inside the room, then I could breathe a sigh of relief – even if the room was no bigger than the double bed inside. "I'm not sure if I should be impressed or scared with the way you can lie so easily."

"Be both," she replied. "At least I saved the room that you were about to lose."

"I wasn't going to lose it."

"Yes, you were."

"No, I wasn't."

She stood with her hands on her hips, looking sexy as hell. The bed was next to her, so close I could have thrown her on it and had her naked in seconds. It was way too tempting not to notice.

My dick noticed too.

"What's your problem?" she asked.

I sat on the edge of the bed and took off my boots so I didn't have to look at her. "I don't have a problem. What's yours?"

"You're my problem."

"I'm the one trying to save your life," I pointed out.

"You really think that, don't you? Has anyone told you you've got a God complex before?"

"I don't have a God complex. It's my job to get you home."

"Was sleeping with me part of that mission?"

I reluctantly dragged my gaze up to meet hers and instantly wished I hadn't. Her eyes were full of hurt and accusations. She was mad, but disappointed too.

It was better this way. I just had to keep reminding myself of that.

"I didn't hear you complaining," I replied. "In fact, I only heard you encouraging me, so I don't know what you're whining about now."

"Are you serious?"

"What? Are you expecting an apology or something? You want me to say sorry for fucking you? It takes two to tango, babe. You could have said no at any time."

She threw up her hands and stormed into the bathroom, making sure to slam the door after her. It was done with such force that it made all the walls shake. The guy at the reception desk probably felt it.

Ariana was definitely mad at me. Her goodbye was definitely going to be an easy one. On her part, anyway. I got the feeling I was going to miss her more than I would admit to anyone.

She was sexy when she was mad, which made it all that much more torturous trying to keep up the ruse. We had to pretend to be a couple to get around the city; otherwise people were going to question our propriety in being together. But it was going to be difficult. My dick was already finding it hard, and it had only been less than half an hour.

When Ariana finished up in the bathroom, she returned wearing nothing but a towel. A fog of steam followed her out, making it look as though she was emerging from a daydream.

"You're an asshole, you know that?" she said as she plunked on the bed.

"Fully aware," I replied, purposefully keeping my gaze out the window. If I took one more look at her in nothing but a towel, knowing what luscious curves were underneath, I was going to lose my self-control.

I had to keep my hands off her. Fucking her once was a mistake. If it happened again, I deserved all the punishment that would surely head my way.

My dick was starting to come alive knowing she was so close and naked. It needed a lot more action than just one night for it to be satisfied.

I hurried to the bathroom and closed the door. Leaning against it, I took a few deep breaths to calm my raging boner.

Getting back to base and handing Ariana over couldn't come soon enough.

# Chapter 9

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

I hated him.

He had no right to use me for his pleasure and then decide it meant nothing. When we were lying together after having sex, I'd thought there was something more between us.

I'd felt it somewhere deep inside. It was a feeling of content and completion. It wasn't just an easy fuck. It may have started off as one, but I know it didn't end that way.

If Derrick was now denying it, then he didn't deserve me. He could continue on with his one-night stands and stay the clichéd bachelor forever. He would die an old and lonely man with huge regrets.

One of them would be me.

I just wished my brain wouldn't keep playing back the highlights for me. Every time I closed my eyes I felt his capable hands on me, his thickness between my legs, those eyes burning with intensity as he gazed at me in the throes of passion.

My body yearned for him. With every beat of my heart I wanted to feel his hands on me again. It wasn't just the situation now. I needed his intimacy more than I'd ever thought possible.

Corporal Derrick Watson had a hold on me and I couldn't shake it off, no matter how hard I tried.

I'd never been that kind of a woman, one that needed a man and went crazy if she couldn't have him. Now I was starting to question it. But it wasn't just any man that I was insane for; it was Derrick, and he was being completely impossible. It was like he didn't even want me around.

Our room only had one bed, so we had to share. I was tempted to sleep naked just to tempt him but decided against it at the last minute – I wasn't that brazen. More likely, he would just be able to tell how horny he made me and then gloat about it.

It felt almost normal sharing a bed with Derrick. The weight of his body next to mine as we tried to find some rest felt right. All I wanted to do was turn over and snuggle into his side.

I was asleep before I could enact any of my ideas, slumber taking me away with sheer exhaustion.
* * *

"Ariana, wake up."

Someone was shaking me, trying to get me to wake up, but it was so nice being lost in my dreams. The current nightmare of our situation didn't exist in my wonderland.

"Ariana, we don't have time for this. Get up!" Derrick's face came into view through my blinking vision. One look and I was instantly awake.

I sat up. "What's wrong?"

"We need to get moving before the sun comes up. We'll cover more ground that way."

So it wasn't like there was an insurgent in our room waving a gun around, then. "You made it sound like an emergency."

"It will be if we don't get to a military base. Get dressed, you've got five minutes."

He was already fully clothed and ready to go. I bet it had taken him more than five minutes. I didn't waste any time arguing, though, just found my clothes and changed back into my stolen outfit. I would have killed for a laundry and fresh clothes.

Derrick waited by the door, growing more impatient by the minute. I was ready to leave in four minutes, but that still didn't seem to make him happy.

"Keep your eyes down and don't look at anyone or anything," he instructed. "Do exactly what I say, when I say it. Understand?"

I saluted him, mainly because I knew it bugged him. He wasn't the only one who could be a jerk when they wanted to be.

He led us out of the small hotel and into the street. It was hot already, with the sun only just starting to peek over the horizon. It was going to be a scorcher of a day.

The only people out and about were traders or people going to work. Only the occasional one gave us a second glance, but it was enough to make me nervous. Derrick noticed too, holding me closer to him every time he saw something he didn't approve of.

"Do you know where we're going?" I asked quietly. My gaze was still largely focused on the ground like he'd instructed, but I couldn't help risk a glance now and then. It was a city I would have loved to explore once.

"I think there's a US base across the city on the outskirts. We're going there."

"And we'll be safe then?"

Derrick hesitated, which pretty much answered my answer. "Safer, anyway."

I trusted he knew what he was doing. Derrick might be a dick, but Corporal Watson was an elite soldier. He knew what he was doing in these conditions far better than I did. I kept my mouth shut and followed along.

As the morning broke, the residents of Jorm woke, and the streets started to bustle with people, mainly men. It wasn't so easy to hide with so many locals around the place.

Derrick grew more agitated, hurrying along as fast as possible without raising more suspicions. If he had his way, we'd probably be running.

"There are rebels here," he muttered to me. "We need to change course."

He pulled me into a café and led me to the back of the building. We sat at a table, in amongst others smoking and drinking coffee.

The only air came from the front door and there was no air conditioning. The atmosphere in the café was thick and stifling, the pipe smoke clinging to my throat and making it cry out with dryness.

Derrick had positioned himself so he could see the door over my shoulder. He leaned in close, as if we were having a deep conversation. "I don't like the way there are so many members of the Taliban here. It's not a good sign."

"How can you tell?"

"They're the ones with the biggest guns," he replied with a sardonic twist to his lips before he shrugged. "It's a gut feeling. You spend time somewhere and you start to notice small things. But, really, they could be anywhere and everywhere. We have to be vigilant."

"You don't know if the military is here?"

"They still could be, but they don't have a grip on the city. It's dangerous for us to be walking around. We look like foreigners. There's no way to properly disguise it."

"So what do we do?"

"Give me a moment while I work it out." His forehead may have been creased with worry lines, but he still managed to offer me a cheeky smile.

He was, by far, the most unpredictable and unreadable man I'd ever known. Here we were, in a country we were at war with, and he was still trying to play it cool. I guessed it must have been all that military training. Perhaps they'd prepared him for scenarios like this one.

I hoped so, anyway.

He thought about it for a while, his eyes constantly flicking between me and the door. The stuffiness of the café and the noise from those enjoying their morning stop made every minute pass at a crawling pace. I silently willed Derrick to hurry up and make a plan so we could keep moving again. Anything was better than just sitting still.

"We stick to the backstreets and keep going," Derrick finally said. "Every moment we spend here is dangerous. The sooner we leave, the better. It's not going to be any safer if we dawdle."

"I'm ready to roll when you are."

He gave one nod, as if that made everything final, and then we left the café. I gulped in the fresh air once outside, filling my lungs to get rid of the smoke and heat.

Derrick took our course off the main street, just like he said. We zigzagged through alleyways and crisscrossed streets. Our feet never stopped moving, hopefully taking us closer and closer to safety.

When we came across some food markets, Derrick stole us something to eat. They were sweet buns with some kind of sticky cream in the middle. It was delicious in my otherwise empty stomach.

He stole a few more food items for later, being quite adept at it. I wondered if that was also part of his military training, but somehow I didn't think it was.

Maybe there was nothing Derrick couldn't do. Besides being a nice human being, anyway.

We walked all day through the heat and danger until we reached the outskirts of the city where Derrick thought the US military base would be. It wouldn't be an elaborate setup like where we had first stayed, but just a few tanks were enough to offer us safety.

"There they are," Derrick said, pointing to a beige mound in the distance. If I squinted I could just make out two trucks in the military camouflage colors.

My heart leaped into my throat at the thought of being rescued. I hadn't realized just how scared I was until it was almost all over. The relief was palpable, just sitting on the brink and waiting to reach the trucks so I could truly feel it.

"We need to be careful when we approach," Derrick warned. "They won't automatically know who we are or that we're US citizens. Don't say or do anything without my permission."

"Yes, sir."

"I mean it, Ariana. This is just as dangerous as approaching the enemy."

"I know, I got it." He really didn't have any sense of humor anymore. He obviously couldn't tell when my nerves were getting the best of me.

We started the slow approach toward the trucks, careful to hold our hands out in the open so they could see we were unarmed. All I could hear was the rush of my pulse as it raced through my body.

With just thirty feet to go, I wanted to run to safety, but I remained behind Derrick as he ordered me to. We would be safe soon enough, I had to keep reminding myself.

The US military would take us back to a safe base. They would arrange for our transport, make sure I was sent home in one piece. I may have set out on an adventure to tell the stories of the people of Afghanistan, but all I wanted to do now was go home. I'd had enough adventures for a while. I yearned for the safety and security of home.

Not that I would ever tell Derrick that.

As far as he was concerned, I was still the disgruntled reporter trying to do my job without the interference of the military. He didn't need to know how my eyes had been opened over the past few days.

Without warning, a huge explosion kicked up dust, and everything else in proximity to it, right in front of us. Derrick quickly turned and grabbed me, falling to the ground as the shock waves burst out from the explosion.

He covered me with his body as the heat and debris started to rain down on us. My ears rang. I couldn't hear a thing anymore. It was like someone had put cotton balls in my ears, and everything was happening around me – not to me.

I focused on my breathing so I didn't freak out. I could do that later; right now there was a bomb that had gone off so close I could feel its power.

When the debris started to subside, Derrick raised his head and took a look. His expression told me everything I needed to know. Still, I hated hearing the truth. "They've blown up the base. We need to get out of here."

Without another moment of hesitation, Derrick rose and pulled me up with him. My legs were shaking as he forced me to move. If it hadn't been for his firm grip on my arm, I would have been frozen in place.

The trucks were completely gone, lying around the streets in a billion pieces. There was nothing left of them, which meant there wasn't anything left of those unfortunate to be inside them at the time either. People had died in just seconds.

_Our_ people. Ordinary US citizens who had made the decision to risk their lives for our freedom and safety. A lump formed in my throat at the horror of it all. War was just wrong, no matter how you looked at it.

Derrick's strides turned into running as people started to gather around the area. Members of the Taliban, holding their guns high in triumph, filled the streets. They were celebrating, dancing on the graves of countless soldiers.

They were little more than monsters.

Tears started to sting my eyes as I ran. Our lives were just as much at stake now as those poor soldiers' had been. If just one of them identified us as American, they would swiftly deliver death – if we were lucky.

I stumbled over a loose rock and Derrick caught me before I hit the ground. My ankle was twisted in the process, pain shooting through it.

"Can you walk?" Derrick asked, his eyes wide open in panic.

I tried a few steps and covered my mouth to stifle the yelps of pain. I shook my head side to side – no.

Derrick didn't hesitate. He lifted me into his arms and started running. My arms looped around his neck to hold on, but I felt safe in his grip.

He could run much faster than I could even while holding my weight. I lost track of our position as we barreled through alleys and wove in and out of streets.

In my head I could picture the explosion in slow motion. Everything had happened so quickly at the time, but now I could see everything. The bomb going off, the trucks exploding, everything being obliterated in a few seconds' time.

Now wasn't the time for crying, but I couldn't hold it back any longer. Derrick was focused on getting away. He wouldn't notice a few stray tears as they trickled down my cheeks.

Derrick finally stopped outside a building that had seen better days. He placed me on my feet. "Can you stand?"

"Yes."

"Wait here while I look around." He wasn't even breathless from all the exertion. Even covered in sweat and fleeing from the enemy, he was incredibly hot. I wished I could forget about everything else and just focus on him for a while.

Derrick returned a few minutes later and picked me up again. "This building looks abandoned. We're going to hide out here for a while."

He took me inside. The building was little more than a shell of what had perhaps once been a warehouse. It was largely empty, with only a few crates and trash scattered around the concrete floor.

He settled me on the floor, making sure I could stand before letting go. Instantly, he inspected the building more closely, making sure it was safe for us to hide in. I waited, my legs still shaking from the whole ordeal.

Derrick finally returned, standing directly in front of me. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" His eyes slid over my body as if searching for a bloody wound.

"I'm fine," I muttered. I tried to control the tears but a floodgate was opening. Derrick stepped closer, wrapping me in his arms and pulling me against his chest. He stroked my hair while letting me weep.

Everything from relief to grief and horror flowed out through my tears and stained his shirt. He didn't say anything, just held on to me like he knew that was exactly what I needed.

I wanted to forget what I had seen but I couldn't. Those images would never leave me, even if I lived to see my hundredth birthday.

When my body had stopped shaking and I couldn't cry anymore, Derrick let me go. His hands moved to my shoulders, holding me in place while he spoke. "I'm not going to let them hurt you, Ariana. I promised you that before, and I don't go back on my word. We're going to get out of this shit and get back home."

"But they're everywhere," I protested, remembering all those men with guns. The city was crawling with them, and those were only the ones I could see. No doubt there would be many more hiding, just waiting to take the enemy out and make an example out of them.

"We're stronger than they are. We can do this. It doesn't matter how many of them there are. I am going to get you to a base, and you're going home."

"What about you? What happens to you?" I asked. The thought of leaving him in the war zone was frightening. Surely this couldn't be his life. Running and fighting was not a life for anyone.

Derrick hesitated before he answered, his grip firm on my shoulders so I had to listen to everything he had to tell me. "I'm a soldier, Ariana. This is what I do. I've been doing this for the past five years, and I'll be doing it for as long as the Army will let me."

"How do you do it?" Tears were brimming again, as much as I hated them. I wanted to be as strong as he needed me to be, but I was too shaken in that moment.

"I'm trained for it. This is what I signed up for. I took an oath to protect my country and people. I'm not leaving here until I know they are safe."

He relaxed his grip on my shoulders until his hands fell away. We just stood there staring at one another, as if the city had fallen away for a while and given us some breathing space.

It was a false sense of safety, I knew that. But it was hard remembering all the evil outside the walls when looking into Derrick's peaceful blue eyes.

"I need you to stay here for a while," he said, shattering the silence and my moment of calm. "I'm going to find us some transport so we can get the hell out of this place."

"I'll come with you."

"It's too dangerous."

"I don't care, I want to stay with you."

Derrick clenched his jaw before he replied. "You'll slow me down, Ariana. Stay here where you can keep out of my way."

He'd flicked the switch again and gone from the man I thought he was to the perpetual jerk he liked to believe he was. It left me feeling cold and alone, even in the heat of the desert country.

I bit my tongue so I wouldn't say anything else and start a fight. Derrick obviously didn't want me to slow him down, so I had no choice except to stay put like a pathetic damsel in distress.

Sitting in a shadowy corner, I surrounded myself with the stray wooden crates and steeled myself for a long wait. There was no guarantee Derrick would return. I could imagine a thousand and one ways the Taliban could catch and kill him.

# Chapter 10

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

Where was a fucking car when I needed one?

When that IED had exploded in front of us, I'd thought we were toast. I was so convinced our time was up that I could see my life flashing before my eyes.

The highlight had been meeting Ariana.

I hated that fact.

Here we were, in one of the most dangerous places on fucking earth, and all I could think about was that woman. She had infiltrated my thoughts, and I hated her for it.

Seeing her crying like that had broken my heart. I just wanted to kiss away each of her tears and put that gorgeous smile back on her face. She'd shown me her vulnerability, and it had ignited the fierce warrior inside of me. I wanted nothing more than to protect her from those motherfuckers.

I had to focus on the plan. The moment my thoughts traveled back to Ariana, I wanted to go to her. Leaving her in that warehouse was one of the hardest things I'd had to do in a long time.

A vehicle. I needed some kind of transport. This was a city run by the Taliban. We had no chance of staying alive if we didn't leave as soon as possible. They had eyes everywhere. If someone hadn't reported the two foreigners in their city by now, it would only be a matter of time.

It was getting dark already. At least the night would give me some cover from the enemy. All I had to do was find a car I could hot-wire and we'd be out of this place in no time.

Even a fucking bicycle would have done.

I spotted an ugly brown car on a quiet street. It was parked outside an apartment building, which meant the owner could be close by. I watched it for a while, getting a feel for the neighborhood before I charged in.

The streetlights should have been on by now, but they weren't. The Taliban had probably put them on darkness in case of a night strike. It was going to work in my favor tonight.

A rock through the window of the car from across the street was enough to shatter the glass. I waited a bit longer, making sure the noise hadn't brought any unwanted attention.

The street was empty.

Now was my chance.

Creeping from the shadows, I slid into the car and fiddled with the wires underneath the dash. The vehicle was old, making the job easier. It started after I found the wires I needed.

The car was noisy, but I took it slow, trying to avoid any attention. I didn't put the headlights on, hoping to move stealthily through the streets.

It seemed everyone I passed looked at me with suspicion and knew what I had done. I told myself it was only paranoia. I was jumpy, far more nervous than I should have been on a mission.

Now all I needed to do was get back to Ariana.

The city was like a maze, and without headlights, the trip was even more hazardous. It was a miracle I got back to the warehouse in one piece.

Jumping out of the car, I hurried inside with my fingers crossed. If something had happened to Ariana while I was gone, I would never forgive myself for it. I would forever beat myself up over such a stupid and fatal mistake.

"Ariana?" I whispered as loudly as I dared.

She wasn't anywhere in sight. My heart stopped beating while all the blood rushed to my head and made me dizzy.

She was gone.

They'd taken her.

The world spun around me as I staggered around the building. There was no trace of her, no sign anywhere of her ever being there in the first place.

I wasn't losing my mind, I was in the correct place, I hadn't dreamed of her existence. She should have been there, waiting, like I'd instructed her.

I told her to stay in the fucking building.

Someone must have found her.

Movement at the back of the warehouse instantly made my eyes sharpen into focus and my ears prick up to hear anything.

"Derrick?" Her voice was little more than a croak, but it was enough to allow relief to flood through my body. I rushed to the corner where she was now standing.

Just as I reached her, I stopped myself from crushing her against my body. She couldn't see how relieved I was. I couldn't let her see that or she would know how much she affected me.

"I have a car," I said, swallowing down all the words I wanted to say to her. "We need to go."

She nodded solemnly. "You were gone a long time."

"It's how long it took."

"I was worried about you."

She was melting my resolve, piece by piece. It was time to get her to hate me again. It would be so much easier for both of us that way. "Do you want to stand here chatting all night or do you want to go home? I'm leaving; suit yourself."

I turned and strode toward the door. Ariana's light footsteps followed shortly afterwards. Her fight was gone, or at least on hold for now. One of these days she was going to hate me and the emotion was going to stick permanently.

We climbed into the car. Ariana sat very quietly, looking sexy as all hell even when she was angry. "Do you have a plan or are we just driving blind?" she asked.

"We drive until we get somewhere."

"That's it?"

"You have something better?" I asked, knowing Ariana loved a good challenge. I expected her to argue with me, at least throw some of her biting wit my way.

But she didn't. All she did was shrug and sigh, curling up into a ball on the seat. Maybe I'd pushed her too far, forced her over the brink until she was crushed.

We drove in silence for a long time. Ariana snoozed restlessly after we left the city. The deserted roads all looked the same after that. I didn't want to risk using the car's headlights, so I was forced to drive slowly.

It was well after midnight when I realized I couldn't go any further without some rest. As far as I could tell, we were in the absolute middle of nowhere. If I pulled off the road far enough, chances were nobody would find us even if they did happen to drive past.

The sound of the engine switching off awoke the sleeping beauty. Ariana blinked and stretched. "Are we there yet?"

"No. Go back to sleep."

She sat up straighter. "What are we doing?"

"I need some sleep. We're staying here for a few hours."

"Are we safe?"

"Safe enough."

Her eyes widened in panic as she looked around and tried to see outside. It was nothing but complete blackness out there. "Where are we?"

"The middle of nowhere. Go back to sleep."

"I've slept. Should I stay up and keep watch or something?" For her to even offer reminded me what a strong woman she was. If there was someone to be stuck on this mission with, I was glad it was her.

"If you want," I replied, shifting to get more comfortable – something that was practically impossible in the car. "But I doubt anyone will drive past tonight. I haven't seen another vehicle in hours."

She settled down again but still remained alert. My dick noticed everything about her in the dim lighting of the vehicle. Even when I turned the light off I could still picture the curve of her tits, the ruby redness of her lips, and the tight wetness of her cunt.

My pants grew tighter while I pictured her naked, straddling me in the car. Even despite my fatigue, I would have been up for a quick fuck. It wouldn't be the kind that lasted for hours; it wouldn't be an exploration of one another's bodies. It would be quick and dirty, both of us chasing the ecstasy like horny animals.

My cock throbbed for it. All the blood in my body drained into my dick until it was painful ignoring it. All I had to do was wake Ariana and lay on the charm. Would she agree to it?

Somehow, I doubted it.

Not after how I'd been treating her.

It was dark in the vehicle and I was almost desperate enough to take care of the situation myself. But jerking off would make the car rock, I wouldn't be able to be completely silent. Ariana would know what was going on.

What would she think?

Some girls got a kick out of watching a man masturbate. Would she be one of them?

Would she join in?

The thought of her watching me was only making the situation worse. God, I wanted to fuck her. Not only for the relief of my throbbing cock, but because we were alive and so many had lost their lives today.

But it was a stupid idea. She was still a reporter and still the target of my mission. There were dozens of reasons why fucking her was the wrong thing to do. I wished I could just get the image of her naked body out of my head.

Every time I blinked, there she was.

Naked.

Writhing.

Needing.

"Derrick?" Ariana whispered tentatively, like I might snap if she said it too loudly. My face burned with the shame of all my filthy, dirty thoughts.

"Yeah."

"I'm scared." The admission cost her a lot, I could tell. A strong woman like Ariana didn't readily admit to being fearful. They hid it with everything they had, even if it killed them.

"We'll be alright. At first dawn we'll keep moving."

In the shadows of the moonlight as the beams infiltrated the car, I could see the concern on her face. I wanted to kiss them away but I couldn't.

Just like I couldn't fuck her.

Still, I could offer her comfort. She wouldn't be able to run home and write a scathing report on that. My hand snaked across the vehicle until it found hers.

We fell asleep holding hands.
* * *

It was still dark when I awoke. There was no way to tell how long I had been asleep. A weight was on me, pressing me down onto the seat and holding me there.

For a moment I panicked and went to lash out. If it hadn't been for some whispered words, I would have.

"Be with me, Derrick. Please," she said into my ear. The skimming of her breath on my skin made my spine shudder with need.

Ariana was straddling me, I quickly realized. Her soft lips were kissing my neck, her small hands grappling with the buttons of my shirt in the darkness.

My cock was going crazy with anticipation. It didn't need any time preparing; it didn't need anything more than to be unsheathed and shoved into her cunt.

I could have just sat there and taken it, let Ariana do whatever she wanted to me. But I had a mission to think of, a career that I needed to protect. I grabbed her hands and held them together between us. "We shouldn't be doing this."

The moonlight was making her eyes sparkle, hitting her face in the most spectacular way. God, she was beautiful. "Please, Derrick. I need to be close to you tonight. I can't sleep anymore. I keep... remembering. Please."

She was practically begging me to fuck her, let her have her devious way with me. I didn't have to do a thing except let her.

I released her hands and she returned to kissing me, holding my cheeks in both her hands so her lips could find mine in the darkness. She tasted like strawberry lollipops, which was a miracle considering we hadn't had anything to eat in hours. And definitely nothing tasting remotely like strawberries.

Shoving her off me was not an option now. She had me pinned in place and I was powerless to stop her. Ariana could win this round. I would gladly concede defeat to her.

I would pay for the consequences later.

She would be worth it.

Her lips and cute little kisses traveled down my body to my chest. She managed to open my shirt, but I couldn't get it off my body while in my current position. My shirt wasn't the one that needed to come off, anyway.

My hands tugged on the bottom of her top until she caught on and lifted her arms. I slid the thin material over her head, throwing it on the seat next to me. Her bra was unclasped with one hand, discarded easily.

It was a crime to cover her tits. While one of my hands drifted around her body and settled on her lower back, one hand stayed on her boob. Her nipple was as hard as a stone, easily able to be rolled between my fingers and elicit a soft moan from her lips.

It was cramped in the car, but that only meant our bodies could not lose contact with each other. Ariana let out a contented sigh as she rubbed her body against mine. Every time the fabric touched my crotch, my dick pulsed and twitched with need.

"I want your hands on my cock," I whispered in her ear. She pulled back slightly, just enough to show me the wicked gleam to her smile.

"You're going to have more than my hands, Corporal."

With that being said, her fingers danced their way down my chest. She pushed back on her ankles to make room, her sexy tits bouncing with every one of her movements. My hands were attracted to them like magnets, never wanting to let go.

She tugged on my zipper, opening my pants with a look of concentration furrowing her brow. My erection was as plain as day even in the darkness. She tugged on it, pulling my dick free until it stood between us in all its engorged glory.

Her fingers wrapped around my shaft, pulling on the sensitive skin in all the right ways. My head lolled back on the seat, ready to be given over to all the joy this woman could give me with only her hands.

I was so horny I could have come in seconds, and that's not what I wanted. The only way I wanted to climax was inside her cunt, snug and buried as deep as I could go. I gently removed her hands. "That's not playing fair, Ariana. I want to fuck you, I'm going to come inside you."

I reached for her pants. They didn't have a zipper, just elastic. She had to help me slide them down her legs, the car not making it easy for either of us. The whole time, my cock winked with anticipation while my heart beat erratically in my chest.

While she was in position, I slid her panties down her legs, too. Her cute little snatch was on display, all hot and sticky for me.

She settled back down, her cunt dangerously close to my cock. It was tempting just to thrust into her, but I had something else in mind first. I wanted to hear Ariana try to stifle her moans of pleasure when I played with her clit.

Her hands were on my shoulders while mine went roaming. I kneaded her nipple with one hand while the other slid down her stomach until it reached her mound. I didn't hesitate in delving further, not until I felt the warmth of her slick wetness.

I tickled her clit, just light enough to make her horny as hell but not hard enough to give her any relief. I wanted her to beg me for it, drop that haughty attitude and forget all about who we were in the real world. It was dark here. We could be whoever we wanted to be.

Her hips started undulating, trying to press her clit against my fingers to make my touch harder. I backed off, not letting her play that game. I was the one in charge here. I would decide when she could come. And that wouldn't be for a while yet.

My hands went to her hips to stop her movement. She was biting on her lip while she looked at me through her long dark eyelashes. She had no idea how sexy she was, she really didn't. My cock was screaming with excitement just from that one look alone.

"Are you going to behave?" I asked. She shook her head no. "Then no more for you. Do you want to stop right now?"

"No."

"Will you behave, then?" She nodded this time, the answer I was looking for. My hands went back to her as she let out a sigh of contentment.

I played with her clit, toying with it between my fingers and giving it a tug every so often. She kept her hips in place this time, not risking me stopping again. My fingers easily slid through her pussy; she was drenched and so ready to be fucked.

My fingers slid further under her until I reached her entrance. I pushed one finger in, her cunt offering no resistance. A second finger followed it in, pumping her with my hand while my thumb rubbed circles on her clit.

Ariana's back arched, her expression a picture of desire and want. She needed a release; she longed for the orgasm I was teasing her with. Her nipples were so close to my mouth, tantalizingly close. They were perfect and pert, juicy and big. I could have come just from watching them bounce as she writhed.

"You like that, babe?"

She moaned. "Hmmm. Don't stop."

"I'm going to make you come. Do you want that, babe?"

"Yes," she sighed.

"How much do you want it?" It was fun seeing her in this state. She couldn't think about anything except the pleasure my hand was giving to her. She was being driven into a frenzy and I had never seen her more beautiful.

"Please, Derrick," she pleaded. I finally got her to beg me. It was a triumph that brought a smile to my lips. "Please give it to me."

She was about to make my cock explode without even touching it. I needed to finish her off so I could get my relief. I was going to be begging for it before too long. I would never have told her that, though. It would be my secret to keep.

I quickly pumped my fingers in and out of her hole while my thumb beat out a pattern on her clit. It took only seconds for Ariana to lose control. She closed her eyes as she moaned. "Derrick."

"Yeah, babe?" I kept fiddling with her clit, drawing out her orgasm for both of our benefit. Seeing her in this private moment where she couldn't control anything was blissful. She was swept up in the pure ecstasy of our bodies touching and I watched her the entire time, noticing every little feature on her face, from the wrinkle of her brow to the sweet curve of her lips.

Her hands came down to pull mine from her, the sensations too much for her to bear. She slumped on to me, our chests beating out a frantic rhythm of their own. She lay there for some time while the rush of adrenaline coursed through her.

"Don't go to sleep on me, babe," I whispered with a hint of laughter in my voice. "I still want to fuck you. Hard. Now."

She pushed herself up with her eyes burning into me. "I want to be fucked," she said. "So, please, be my guest."

"You said it, babe."

I positioned her hips so she wavered over my cock. I was rock hard, standing straight up and strained against the skin. It felt like I was going to split in two if I didn't relieve some of the pressure in my dick.

My hand briefly checked her cunt, making sure it was still wet enough for me. She was soaked; there was no way my cock was going to hurt her as I plowed inside. It was enough to give me the green light.

The only encouragement I needed.

I pushed her hips down, my cock barreling into her with sudden pressure. She gasped as I filled her, her tight little cunt wrapping around my dick and squeezing it just right.

I didn't stop pushing on her hips until I was buried up to the balls inside her. Fuck, she felt good. Just tight enough to squeeze me, not tight enough to cause any pain to either of us. Ariana was perfect in every way. It was a pity this was going to be the last time we'd have sex. I tried to push that thought away for now.

Ariana started moving her hips, using her legs to slide up and down my shaft. I guided her rhythm, making sure she didn't go too fast when it all felt so fucking good. I wanted to be doing this for hours, but I wouldn't last that long. Not when her tits were bouncing with her body, her hard little nipples erect and waving at me.

I grabbed one of those tits, bringing it into my mouth so I could suck on her nipple. Her hand cradled the back of my head, pulling me closer against her. She loved having her boobs played with, loved my tongue swirling around her nipple. I bit gently, eliciting a pleasurable groan from her lips.

This woman was awesome. She knew exactly how to move our bodies to get the most intense feelings of joy I had ever experienced. She knew exactly what I needed before even I did.

My cock couldn't take it much longer. If I was going to explode inside her, she needed to be satisfied too. I switched to the other breast and gave it some attention, sucking on her nipple like she was my lifeline. My hand wandered to her clit, playing with it again to bring her to the point of no return.

She increased the rhythm of our hips, slamming down on my cock before pulling her hips up again to release it. Our bodies slapped together, sounding so loud in the quiet desert that it felt like someone would catch us at any moment.

I would die a happy man.

"Ah, Derrick," Ariana moaned. "I'm going to come, I can't last any longer."

I pushed down hard on her clit, taking all the breath out of her lungs. Her cunt contracted, squeezing my cock and letting me know she had climaxed – as if the serene expression on her face wasn't enough proof.

I grabbed her hips and slammed into her one last time. It was all I needed to join her in Happy-town. The orgasm erupted from my dick, sending my cum spraying everywhere inside her and mixing her juices with mine.

"Fuck, Ariana."

The climax sent a surge of heat through my body, coating my skin with a layer of sweat from the exertion. Nestled in her cunt was exactly the perfect place for my dick. It felt like home there. This woman's body was made for mine.

I held her against my chest, both my arms wrapped around her. I was definitely going to keep her safe. Even if that meant laying down my life for hers. It would be worth it.

We remained in place for a long time. My cock went soft inside her, but she still refused to let me go. For a while there I thought she had fallen asleep.

Until she spoke. "I'm glad I'm lost with you. I don't think this would be bearable with anyone else."

"I'm going to get you to safety," I promised, not for the first time and probably not for the last time either. I would go to the ends of the earth for this woman. But I would never admit that to anyone.

I'd never even had thoughts like this about a woman. They were supposed to be easy fucks, clean and simple so I didn't have to wake up next to them the next day. I'd never considered having a relationship before, never pictured myself the settling-down type.

Ariana was changing everything, and I couldn't let her. I was a soldier; I was married to the job. I couldn't have someone waiting for me at home.

It wasn't how I worked.

I couldn't have that kind of responsibility resting on my shoulders.

"I know you're going to save us." She was quiet again for a while. I started stroking her back, hoping to lull her into a restful sleep. "Derrick?"

"Yeah, babe."

"I'm not going to want to leave you."

Those words.

They crushed my heart into powder so it would blow away with the wind.

I couldn't think of Ariana leaving and what I would do when she was gone. It was inevitable, something that could not be avoided. She didn't belong in this war zone, and I didn't belong in the normal world. We both had commitments that we were too stubborn to ignore.

For just a moment I entertained the thought of what it would be like to have a regular relationship with her back home. I pictured the house with a picket fence, the mornings we'd wake up to the smell of fresh coffee brewing, watching a movie before retiring to bed for the night.

It was all there in my imagination, the whole scene. But it wasn't realistic. I'd tried to live in the normal world, and my drug habit had almost killed me. It was the Army that had gotten me back on the straight and narrow. The military was where I belonged.

But I couldn't share any of that with Ariana. She didn't know of my past, and I wasn't about to share it with her. She wouldn't look at me the same way if she knew how many people I'd hurt with my habit. I still couldn't look my mother in the eyes after what I'd put her through.

I steeled myself for the words I had to say. I took a deep breath, ready to tell her she wouldn't even give me a thought when she saw the plane that would take her out of here. That I would be a forgotten memory by the time she arrived home.

My words caught in my throat, remaining unspoken.

The truth was I couldn't think about her leaving. Otherwise, I might have made sure she never reached that plane.

# Chapter 11

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

I woke up in the passenger seat. If I wasn't still naked I might have thought the night with Derrick was just an erotic dream.

My pussy was pleasantly sore, another reminder that I hadn't dreamed the events. Derrick had promised to fuck me and I had let him. No, not just _let_ him. I'd wanted it too. I'd wanted to feel the closeness and intimacy, to know that I wasn't alone so far out in the desert. It was easy to think the entire world had disappeared when we were stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Derrick was awake already. Dressed, too. He was used to waking with the sun, but I wasn't. Sleeping in and late breakfasts were my preference. None of this early bird crap.

I caught him openly ogling my naked body. He didn't even have the decency to look away. "I hope you're enjoying the free show," I mumbled.

"Ain't nothing free about it, babe," he replied. It was too early to try to figure out what he meant by that. I let the comment pass over me.

"Can you at least pass me my clothes, please?"

He looked around, as if only just realizing he might have the offending articles. Derrick finally found them on the floor of the vehicle. I tried not to think of all the dirt that was probably down there too. He handed them to me. "Don't feel like you need to get dressed on my behalf. Naked works fine with me."

"I don't think the locals would like it, if we ever reach civilization again." His lips quirked into a panty-dropping smile while I dressed. He finally looked away when I had my clothes on again. "About last night—"

He held up a hand, interrupting me. "It was the last time. It can't happen again. I understand that we both needed someone and some comfort. But it can't happen again. We'll be at a base soon."

Derrick was back to being the cold Army officer again. All traces of the man I had been with the night before were gone. He was truly a walking contradiction, and a part of me hated him for it.

How could I be so attracted to a man who didn't care about my feelings? Who could have sex with me and stroke me so gently, but then be so harsh to me just hours later? I couldn't figure him out.

My chest felt like it was going to cave in. I forced myself to take some deep breaths so he couldn't see how upset he'd made me. I didn't want him to know how deep my feelings flowed for him. It wasn't just the trauma of the situation. I knew Derrick was more to me than just my savior.

But it seemed I was nothing to him. A one-night stand who had hung around for a second night and was now overstaying my welcome.

I clamped down my feelings so I could match his cold tone. "So are we going to go, or what?" I fixed my gaze straight ahead so I didn't look at him and melt into a puddle. He was not going to get the best of me. No man ever had, I made sure of it.

It seemed like forever until Derrick started the car. "There's some food on the backseat if you're hungry. I stole it when I took the car."

I didn't answer him, but I did take a few slices of the bread he had stashed. We drove in silence, just us and the endless plains of the desert.
* * *

"Ariana, wake up."

Derrick poked me a few times to make sure I followed his direction. I rubbed my eyes and sat up straighter in the car, taking in our new surroundings.

We were in a city, more modern than the last one. The buildings here were higher, the streets paved with tar and not bricks.

"We need to ditch this car," Derrick continued. "We need one with local license plates. Someone will notice us if we stand out as being different. Do you have any money on you?"

"My money was with my laptop. The one I left in the truck when we were ambushed," I replied. At least I was completely anal about backing up my work to the cloud. My work would still be there when I logged on again. I hadn't lost my thousands of typed words.

"Shit."

"What's wrong? I thought you were fine stealing anything we needed."

He hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand before replying. "We need accommodations. I can't steal a hotel room."

"Can't we go straight to the base?"

"I don't know if there is one here. It's a city I've never been to before. There's no telling what's waiting for us here." His brow was furrowed, causing a deep line down the middle of his forehead.

If Derrick was worried about something, that meant there was something to be worried about. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, I'll figure it out," he said tersely, hitting the steering wheel again with frustration.

Still, I racked my brain trying to work out what we could do. Lying low hadn't exactly worked perfectly in the last place. We stuck out. It was inevitable when we didn't look the same as the locals. Our traditional clothes helped immensely, but they were not miracle workers. Our faces were still uncovered and visible for anyone who wanted to take a second glance.

After a few minutes, when we reached a densely populated area, Derrick pulled the car over and turned off the engine. "This car is a liability now. We have to go on foot from here on out."

"Maybe we should keep driving and leave the city, go somewhere you know there is a base?" I suggested. Derrick was already shaking his head before I finished speaking.

"Too many people are looking at us, and we need gas. Stealing fuel will attract too much attention. We need to disappear on foot."

He climbed out of the vehicle, leaving me no choice except to do the same thing. Without saying a word he started walking, quickly slipping between two buildings while I hurried to keep up with him. He didn't seem to care too much if I was there or not.

We wove a maze through the buildings, our heads down and not making eye contact with anyone. The heat was trapped in the small streets, hugging the sidewalk and refusing to relent. I was thirsty, sweating, and exhausted. Derrick seemed unaffected by the elements, I guessed because he'd spent a lot more time in Afghanistan than I had – he was acclimated.

There was no point asking him if he had a plan. He would only snap at me. All I could do was shut up and follow him like an obedient puppy. His silence was making me angrier with every step we took.

We walked down another alleyway before Derrick's arm shot out to stop me moving forward any further. He froze, his body strained and ready for action. A dread started to pit in my stomach.

"What—"

"Shh," he hushed, stopping me.

He cocked his head to the side, listening to something I couldn't hear. It felt like my breath was too loud, like someone would hear it and our position would be betrayed. No matter how many times I looked over his shoulder, I couldn't see the danger he saw.

"Someone's following us," he whispered. He shifted around so I was positioned in front of him, Derrick shielding my back now. "See that hotel over there?" He nodded forward to an entrance of a building, its name written in English and Dari. I nodded in return. "You need to go in there and hide. Pretend you have a room there and they shouldn't bother you. I will lead them away and come back for you. Do it now."

I didn't want to be separated from him and I didn't want to send him into danger either. But he was the soldier, he knew what he was talking about. He may have been a jerk but I did trust him.

"Now, Ariana."

With him still standing as a barrier between us, I started walking. Every shaky step took me closer to the hotel and further away from the man that was my security blanket.

Risking a glance backward, I could see he was watching me, all the way until I was inside. Then he moved.

He would come back for me.

I was almost certain of it.

The hotel opened into a large foyer, crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. People mingled around, checking in or waiting around with a cell phone stuck to their ear. It was mainly populated by Afghans. I was the only Westerner in the area that I could see.

A man at the check-in counter glanced up when I first entered. He was busy with a guest but he still kept an eagle eye trained on me. I didn't need the attention. Derrick would have expected me to be invisible, unremarkable, unnoticed.

I'd pretended to be things I wasn't before; sometimes it was necessary in my line of work. I could do this. I could convince them all that I belonged there and wasn't lingering for any shady reasons.

My back straightened as I rolled my shoulders back. I strode confidently over to the large couches they had in U shapes around the lobby. Taking a seat in one, my gaze remained on the door, but not like my life depended on it.

Every time my eyes wandered around the foyer, I noticed the check-in counter guy looking my way. He could tell I didn't belong there. I could see it in his doubtful frown. It would only be a matter of time before he did something about it.

I rose and followed the signs to the restroom, needing just a moment of solitude to gather myself together. The mirror was the first thing I saw when I went inside. I barely recognized myself. I carefully took off the scarf from around my head. My face was dirty, covered in a layer of dust from the desert. My clothes were the same. My dark hair was messy, the ponytail coming loose at the ends. No wonder I'd stood out so well. I looked like a beggar.

I cleaned myself up as best I could, redoing my hair and washing my face. I put the scarf back on, covering my head once more so that only my face was visible. My clothes needed a good launder, but there was little I could do about that in the restroom. My attitude would have to make up for the unkempt attire.

Going back to the foyer, I resumed my seat and waited, praying Derrick was okay and that he would be the next one through the front doors.

He couldn't come fast enough.

# Chapter 12

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

They were good, I'd give them that. The members of the Taliban who were tracking me didn't let me out of their sight for even a moment. Every step I took, they took with me.

I needed to shake them and get back to Ariana before something stupid happened. She would be nervous now that she was alone, wondering where the hell I was. It wasn't ideal separating, but I couldn't risk both of us being followed.

The bastards tracking me could easily take me out. I wasn't delusional enough to believe they didn't have guns or knives on them. The reason why they hadn't yet was worrying me.

Did they think I was going to lead them to my base? Did they have orders to capture and not kill? There were plenty of scenarios I played out in my mind, but I couldn't decide on just one.

Whatever their reasons, I needed to shake them. If we were still out playing this game of cat and mouse after dark, it would not end well. They could hide all kinds of traps in the shadows.

I was tired of walking, hungry, thirsty, and antsy. I wished I had my gun. If I hadn't lost it when that motherfucker had hijacked our truck, I would have felt much better. It would have at least leveled the playing field.

The streets were narrow and filled with obstacles like large chunks out of the sidewalk. I hastened my pace, slipping down alleyways that seemed too thin to actually go anywhere and employing every bit of my training to give them the slip.

I walked a large circle around the hotel where Ariana and I had parted ways. The last thing I wanted to do was leave it completely – there was no guarantee I'd be able to find it again if I strayed too far.

The fuckers were still on my tail, remaining just far enough back to make sure their message was clear but not close enough for me to get a good look at them. They were the shadows that lurked around every corner, the footsteps my ears strained to hear over my heartbeat.

A covered marketplace was coming up in the distance. Finally, my luck was turning. It would be a lot easier to lose them somewhere crowded like that. Hopefully it was peak time for the buyers and sellers.

I hurried to enter and wove an intricate pattern through the stalls. It was about half-full of people, still making it difficult to slip away from my followers.

Around and around I went.

Until I realized why they weren't doing anything to capture me.

It was a diversion.

The moment the realization hit me, I could feel the truth of it in my gut. They were using me, keeping me busy so they go after what they really wanted.

Ariana.

I burst out of the first exit I saw, frantically looking around to gather my bearings. I needed to get to her before it was too late. It was so stupid of me to leave her, to think the Taliban were solely after me. It was a mistake that could cost an innocent person her life.

I had to get to her before they did.

How long had they been following me? How many minutes had I wasted leading them away when that's exactly what they wanted? Get rid of me, and their comrades could swoop in and take Ariana.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

My gut was sick with panic and worry while my feet pounded on the dusty pavement. The burning in my side didn't matter, not when Ariana's life was at stake. I'd made it so easy for the Taliban. I'd left her vulnerable and alone.

So fucking stupid.

All the streets looked the same when I was running, every delay costing me seconds I didn't have. The distance between Ariana and me seemed to be impossible. I couldn't get back to her fast enough.

Finally, I burst into the hotel.

People were going about their business, talking on phones, waiting for elevators, speaking in low voices. I didn't recognize any of them.

Ariana was gone.

There was no trace of her anywhere. I rushed up to the check-in counter and tapped the bell impatiently until a man came over. "I'm looking for a woman," I said. "She's about this high, dark hair, brown eyes. She's a Westerner. Have you seen her?"

He nodded, at least understanding English. "Yes, she was here."

"Where did she go? Did you see?"

"She went with a man."

"What did he look like? When did she leave?" I craved details, needed to know everything. Already I was trying to work out where I would begin to look for her.

"He wasn't a Westerner. They left a few minutes ago. That is all, I'm sorry." The guy left me to attend to his customers. I wanted to call him back and demand more answers, but what else could he tell me?

The Taliban had taken her.

Ariana had been kidnapped.

And I'd let it happen.

I stepped back out onto the street, searching everywhere for a glimpse of her, or even a hint of where they went.

It was like she'd just disappeared into thin air. There was no trace of the woman, not even the lingering scent of her shampoo that I had locked into my memory.

Gone.

Vanished.

Along with the enemy.

My followers were no longer tracking me. They'd served their purpose and kept me apart from Ariana. They had her now; they didn't need me any longer.

The city suddenly seemed massive when I was searching for one woman. I couldn't leave her; there was no option for me to abandon her. I would spend the rest of my life looking for her if that's what it took.

I started walking, going up and down every street. In my head I laid out a grid, making sure I didn't miss anything and covered all the area I could before nightfall.

There were no traces of her. I wished I had a photo I could show people. Asking them if they'd seen a Western woman wasn't very effective. The language barrier was too great to overcome in most cases. The few that spoke English were too scared to speak with me. The Taliban had them fearful too.

By nightfall I was still walking. I'd stolen some food to quell my relentless hunger, but there was nothing for my aching feet. I couldn't give up, I had nowhere else to go and nothing else to do.

Eventually I had no choice. I had to rest. It had to be well past midnight and the streetlights were all turned off. I could barely see my hands in front of my face. I strayed into an alleyway and curled up in the corner.

Sleep took me away fitfully.
* * *

The next day was the same, walking and searching. I tried to remember every minute of my training, searching for buildings that looked like they might be bases for the Taliban.

The problem was they blended in too well. Members of the Taliban looked and lived just like their fellow countrymen. There was no red uniform or membership badge that set them apart from everyone else. I could have passed by the building Ariana was being kept in and there was no way to know.

I wanted to punch something.

Kill someone.

I must have walked for miles upon miles during the day. My search was endless and hopeless. All I could pray for was that Ariana was still alive and they hadn't done everything I knew they were capable of to her.

Everything they did to her was blood on my hands. It was my fault that I hadn't protected her. I was the one with the training. I should have worked out their plan sooner. It was me who had let her be taken.

Just before dusk, I spotted something. I suspected my eyes were playing tricks on me, showing me something that I wanted to see and not the hopeless truth that was surrounding me.

A second glance and he was still there.

A US military soldier.

He was in full uniform, his armor heavy and his gun at his side. He was standing beside a truck, one I knew belonged to the American Army.

I approached cautiously, well aware that I looked far from being a soldier myself. I didn't want to give him a reason to use that gun.

"Comrade," I said by way of greeting.

His Army patch said Fellows, and he eyed me with suspicion, his fingers gripping the gun a little tighter. "Identify yourself."

I stood tall, trying to look at least a little like my old self. "Corporal Derrick Watson from the fourteenth platoon. I was on a mission that was ambushed ten days ago. My squad got separated."

Fellows gave me a good once-over before he stuck out his hand for me to shake. "Welcome back, Watson. They've been looking for you."

A flush of relief washed over me, allowing me just a moment to be happy. It was enough to restore my hope. Maybe now I would be able to find Ariana; maybe now I would have help.

Not that I deserved it.

"Do you know what happened to the rest of my platoon?" I asked hopefully.

"No, sir, I don't. Sorry."

"My mission was to protect some civilians," I started before telling him the whole story. He listened intently while still keeping an eye on our surroundings. He didn't ask any questions until the end, well trained by the military to listen before speaking.

"Are you sure the Taliban took her? She couldn't have wandered off?" Fellows asked.

I wanted to punch him, but a part of me knew he had to ask the question. "I'm certain of it. She wouldn't have deserted me without telling me. I promise you that."

"We'd better get back and discuss it with our superiors. If the Taliban have an American civilian, then we are all in trouble."

I nodded, and Fellows used his radio to call in our position and status. A scratchy voice on the other end confirmed they'd heard and understood everything that was communicated.

Being in a military vehicle was a relief. I could get help now. My brothers would do all they could to locate Ariana and get her home safely. I was alone no longer in my search.

The base was about thirty miles out of the city. I hated every mile that took me further away from Ariana, but I would return with help. We'd find her in no time.

We had to.

Otherwise, she was in serious danger.

# Chapter 13

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

It had all happened so quickly. One minute I was sitting in the hotel foyer and the next I was surrounded by men I didn't know.

They weren't the kind of men who accepted no for an answer. They didn't even ask me if I wanted to go with them. Two had grabbed my arms, one on each side, and they'd hauled me out to their waiting car.

The moment they had me in their captivity they placed a black sack over my head, cutting off my sight and muffling my hearing. Not that it really mattered. They spoke in a language I didn't understand, in sharp tones that told me they were angry.

We drove around for a long time in the car. I counted the different voices; there had to be six of them there with me. We were crammed in and the air stunk like body odor. The smell, combined with the stifling heat, made me so nauseous I had to bite down to stop myself throwing up.

When the car finally came to a stop and the engine was cut, I knew true panic. They couldn't do much to me in the vehicle, but in their private lair, they could do whatever they wanted. It wasn't like they respected the law, or Westerners.

I wondered how long it would take Derrick to realize I was gone and start to panic. Surely he would know I hadn't left on purpose and was in desperate need of his help? He knew me that well. At least, I hoped so. If he didn't start looking for me, then nobody would.

I had to believe Derrick would rescue me; otherwise I wouldn't be able to breathe. My life couldn't end with these terrorists. It wasn't how I'd ever imagined my future to be. I was supposed to grow old, not be tortured by the Taliban. This was never supposed to happen.

They pushed me along, my head still in the sack. They'd secured it around my neck a little too tightly, the rope digging into my throat painfully. Fearful didn't even begin to describe the feeling of being their captive.

We entered a building, the noises of the road dying away and giving over to the quietness. My feet shuffled along while the men jostled around me. We were probably moving down a corridor, and there wasn't enough room for us all to walk together.

I was pushed into a chair, my arms tugged behind me and tied with rope around the back. They left me there for some time before a man pulled the sack from my head.

My eyes blinked in the sudden light as I tried to take in my new surroundings. It was a dirty and dingy room, tiny but illuminated with strip lighting on the ceiling. It held only two chairs – one I was sitting in and one the man was perched on.

"You are in trouble," he said. All his teeth were yellowed, his eyes as black as the night. There was no gentleness or humanity in his gaze. He saw me as an object and nothing more.

"Please let me go," I begged. "I promise I will leave your country as quickly as I can."

His lips quirked into a sneer. "You are going nowhere, bitch. You think your government will save you? Think again. You are all alone here, with only me, and I will not show you any mercy. You are an infidel."

All I had was my voice, and I planned on using it as a weapon any way I could. "I'm a reporter. I came here to Afghanistan to tell the story of your people. I was trying to make the Westerners understand your side of the story."

He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing over his chest. His clothes would have been white once; now they were as gray as the steel on the chair we sat on. "You are here to tell lies. Lies about the Afghan people, to further your war."

"I'm not. I don't agree with the war. Please, you've got to believe me."

Apparently he didn't. He reached forward and slapped me across the face – hard. My head jerked to the side with the impact, the taste of blood fresh in my mouth. The sting of the impact came a moment later, making my whole cheek burn.

"I don't believe anything you say." He spat the words at me and walked out, slamming the door behind him. I was all alone in my tiny cell, still bound to the seat and unable to move.

It was a living nightmare.

Thoughts of Derrick flooded into my mind, trying to distract me from my situation. We had been fighting the last time we had had a real conversation. It had come after the sexy night we'd had together.

If that was the last time I saw him, I regretted it. He'd tried to push me away and I had let him, when in fact all I'd wanted to do was hold on to him. Maybe he was glad I had been taken. He would be able to find his fellow soldiers faster without me.

A feeling deep in the pit of my stomach told me he really did care, though. I had seen the soft side of him; he'd shown me his true self before he shoved the walls back into place. The real Derrick would be looking for me.

I had to believe that.

Otherwise, there was absolutely no hope for me.

# Chapter 14

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

Seeing the base was like coming home.

Being surrounded by my comrades was as good as being with family. We were one group, a team that worked together like clockwork.

I stood in front of my superior, Major Halton, and told my entire story. Even though I was impatient to get back out into the field and find Ariana, I knew this was a necessary part of the plan.

Halton had to know the truth so he could give orders to find her. I needed his cooperation – Ariana needed his cooperation.

"You're certain the Taliban took her?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, I am. They ambushed me, leading me away from her so they could kidnap her without hassle. I left her vulnerable."

"That doesn't matter right now. We need to assemble a team. We can target the known Taliban hideouts and start there. Clean yourself up and report back here at six hundred hours."

"Tomorrow? Sir, we need to start looking tonight," I protested. Leaving Ariana out there for a full night wasn't possible. We had to find her before they had a chance to do anything to her.

"My troops have just returned from a long mission. They will be no good until morning, just like I suspect you won't be. Tired soldiers make mistakes, it costs them lives. I will not have any of that on my watch. Six hundred hours, soldier. Not a minute before."

I opened my mouth to continue arguing, but he stared me down. Once Major Halton gave an order, he did not allow it to be questioned. As much as it killed me, I had to walk away and obey.

My first stop was the cafeteria. My stomach was growling up a storm and it wouldn't abate until I got some food. I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten. I forced the food down, even while I was sick with worry.

I'd almost finished my meal when someone slapped me on the back. Next thing I knew, Marshall, Rafter, and Simon sat down at the table surrounding me. Seeing my entire squad together, alive and well, was a relief in itself.

"Hey, Watson. We heard you were here. It's about time you caught up with us," Marshall said, grinning like a fool.

"I thought you guys were all dead. What happened to you?"

Rafter shook his head. "That explosion, man. It turned us all around. I made it back to the meeting point two days late, only to find these guys waiting there. We stole a car and hotfooted it to base. What happened to you?"

"I waited at the meet point for hours before deciding you'd all given up on the meet. We walked miles before finding shelter." Images of Ariana and how we'd spent that night flashed through my mind. I would have given up everything if I could have relived them with her.

"It's the woman, isn't it? The reporter, she's the one the fucking Taliban have?"

"Yeah. They led me on a wild goose chase and took her while I wasn't looking. I take full responsibility for her capture."

Marshall gave me another slap on the back. "Don't beat yourself up, dude. They are slimy bastards that don't play fair. We'll get her back. If not, we'll die trying."

My squad had the best men around. We were a band of brothers, and knowing they were here with me to fight at my side made everything that much more hopeful. With them at my back we had a chance.

"What happened to your civilians?" I asked.

"We handed them over," Simon said. "They should be at home, tucked into their beds, by now. Man, were they glad to be getting out of here."

I bet they were.

Ariana should have been one of them. She should have been safely at home now, still cursing the bastard soldier who had fucked her over. Where they had all succeeded in their mission, I had failed.

The enemy had Ariana. Everything I did in Afghanistan was to protect our people, make the world a safer place. Now I had let the one person I cared about slip into their custody, and she was paying the price for my stupidity.

Ariana was never going to forgive me. I was never going to forgive myself. I'd seen what the Taliban were capable of. If they were doing anything like that to Ariana, she was going to be going through hell. She wouldn't be the same person ever again.

I just hoped she could hold on until we found her.

Because I would find her.
* * *

Six hundred hours finally came after a very long night. I'd barely slept a wink, but I did have about eight cups of coffee while I waited for the time to pass by.

My thoughts were plagued by Ariana. No matter what I was going through, she would be suffering a million times worse. An infidel, the enemy, in the hands of the Taliban. They could have killed her already.

When my thoughts dared to venture there, I had to snap them back. If I didn't have hope, then I'd lost everything. I wouldn't be able to function, and that's exactly what I needed to do right now.

Major Halton had finalized the plans before we gathered together and awaited our orders. He held up a photograph of Ariana. It looked to be from DMV records and held none of the sparkle I knew she was capable of.

I was teamed with my troop, the four of us working as a unit once more. We were lethal when together; this gave me the boost I needed to believe we would succeed. They would help me fulfill my mission, and I would return Ariana home safely.

We were loaded into vehicles and trucked out of the base. Everybody was reassigned to finding Ariana today. The fight was on hold until we got her back.

Each team was assigned a different known Taliban hideout. For every one we knew about, there were probably a dozen we didn't. She could have been anywhere. They'd had enough time by now that they could even have taken her out of the city.

We moved with the skill and stealth of our training, spying on the hideouts with all the equipment we had. Heat sensors told us how many people were inside, and amplified sound gear let us listen in on conversations, but still there were no traces of Ariana.

It was a long and laborious search through the city. All teams communicated their findings, but there was no trace of the reporter anywhere.

Until, finally, a call came through on the staticky radio. "Potential sighting of target. Building Delta on the east side. Backup requested."

There was no hesitation from my squad. We abandoned our post and radioed in our acceptance of the backup request. Building Delta wasn't that far from our location; we could make it there quickly to join in the rescue effort.

Rafter drove like there was no tomorrow, maneuvering the truck around bends and flooring the accelerator as we lurched forward. We all held on, the familiar adrenaline rushing through our veins.

This was what we'd trained for. This was how we worked. We could do this.

"There it is," I said, pointing to my comrades' military truck parked on the street. The building would be a block away, ensuring we were as hidden as possible from the enemy.

I jumped out of the truck before it came to a complete halt and ran to the vehicle. They let me in and showed me the evidence.

The thermal imaging camera had picked up a group of people in the building. One was sitting while the rest were standing in another room. From the ghostly image, it appeared the one seated had their hands tied behind their back.

It could have been Ariana, or it could have been any number of people the Taliban was holding hostage. They kidnapped foreigners and locals alike, anyone that bothered them.

"We've got snipers positioned on the surrounding points," a young recruit named McMahon said. "The first team is assembled and ready to go in. Do you want to join them?"

"Fuck yes," I replied, already moving. My armor was on, and I clipped my helmet into place and checked the gun in my hands. I was ready to fight for what I wanted, and I wouldn't be taking any hostages.

I lined up with the other soldiers, ready to storm the building. We were all waiting for the order to come through our headsets, our heartbeats racing with pure adrenaline.

I hadn't had much reason to pray in the past. I always thought we'd either survive a mission or it was our time to be called and our deaths would come quickly. This time, with so much at stake, I felt like asking God for a hand. If I didn't make it out alive, at least get Ariana to safety. That was all I wanted.

"Team One, go," said the microphone in my ear.

Our time for praying and waiting was over. We moved as one, my squad and many other soldiers whom I didn't know by name. Today we were a team, and that person sitting down was our target.

The soldiers closest to the door broke it down, smashed right through it like it was mere splinters. We hurried inside, our guns ready to shoot and nobody there to stop us.

Except those inside. The gunshots were immediate, all coming from the men we encountered inside the house. We fired back, the house filling with smoke and the smell of gunpowder.

If it wasn't for our armor we would have fallen as quickly as the enemy. They fought us viciously, sending more bullets our way than on a battlefield.

Our side threw down a smoke bomb while we pulled our night vision goggles into place. We could see fine, but they were swamped by the smoke and moving blindly. They continued to fire, determined to shoot us dead even if they couldn't see us.

Something exploded in another room, making debris from the wall fill the corridor. I saw Marshall fall and my heart stopped for a moment. One of the other men saw it too and quickly took action. He recruited Simon and together they dragged him back to the front of the house. I would have to worry about him later. Right now, the mission was still too dangerous to turn away from.

More loud bangs ricocheted through the small house. They had it booby-trapped, making it even more difficult to find our way through. Around every door were not only men with guns but the potential for explosions, too.

No matter how much gear we wore, how sophisticated our technology, little could beat their bombs. I pushed my own safety to the back of my mind so I could focus on finding Ariana.

She was in the building; she had to be. I could feel her presence and it spurred me on. I couldn't think of what condition I would find her in. Whatever it was, I would make them pay.

The smoky fog inside the small building was disorienting. I ran a hand along the wall, trying to make sure I wasn't going around in circles. The gunfire was coming from all directions, impossible to tell whether it came from friend or foe.

A sharp sting cut across the bicep of my arm, momentarily taking all the air out of my lungs. It quickly turned to a burning sensation, letting me know one of the bastards' bullets had grazed my arm. It hurt like a motherfucker, but it wasn't fatal.

I continued on.

Yelling in two different languages punctuated the air. At least it was easy telling which side was throwing out the words.

My right hand found a doorknob and twisted the handle. There was no hesitation before I went inside. I had a small window of opportunity to see clearly before the smoke followed me in.

There were no members of the Taliban in the room, just one woman.

Ariana.

She was bound and gagged, but alive.

I ran straight to her, taking in her bruises for the first time. She was covered in them, along with bloodied cuts and grazes. Her eyes were closed as her head lolled back. If it hadn't been for the gentle rise and fall of her chest, I would have thought she was dead.

"Ariana," I said quietly, not wanting to startle her. "Ariana."

She mumbled, groaned, but didn't wake up. My gun was forgotten while I untied her. She slumped to the side, falling right into my waiting arms. I stood and crept to the doorway.

The enemy were still firing shots at my comrades. Simon saw me, took in the unconscious Ariana in my arms, and got to work. He, and the other soldiers closest, covered me. They took me right to the front door.

My eyes were streaming from the smoke when I burst outside. Instantly soldiers rushed up to me, trying to take Ariana.

"I'm not letting her go," I growled at them. Over my dead body would I let her out of my sight again.

"You're bleeding," Corporal Cox pointed out. "We've got this. She'll be alright."

I ignored him and continued over to the truck. Climbing in, I settled on the floor with Ariana. She was still unconscious, warm in my arms, and badly beaten. If it wasn't for my need to stay with her, I would have run back into that building and killed them all for what they'd done to her.

I hoped my fellow soldiers killed the motherfuckers.

Every single last one of them.

The blasts of the gunfire lasted a while longer before my comrades started to leave the building. We'd suffered injuries but lost no lives, thankfully. We headed back to base the moment it was confirmed we'd all made it out.

# Chapter 15

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

I woke up in a hazy fog. The only thing I could focus on was Derrick as he stared at me with concern in his ocean-blue eyes.

"Hey, you're awake," he said. His warm hand was wrapped around mine. He was wearing a black T-shirt, tight enough to hug the contours of his muscles. The sleeves were also short enough to show me his bandaged injury.

"What happened to you?" I asked. Every word cost me more energy than I had to spare.

"Got shot. It's nothing, really. How are you feeling?"

"Okay."

"Liar." I couldn't get away with anything while Corporal Watson was around.

"Fine, I feel like crap. Happy now?"

"No," he said seriously. "I'm so sorry, Ariana. I should never have left you alone. This is all my fault. I don't expect you to forgive me."

Tears were starting to brim in his eyes, but he wiped them away before I was supposed to see them. I would never have held him accountable for what had happened. He couldn't have known they'd come for me. He was only trying to protect me.

"It's not your fault, Derrick," I said honestly. "I don't blame you, so don't blame yourself."

"But what you went through—"

"I'm okay. That's all that counts." I tried to sit up, but it felt like every bone in my body had been run over by a tank. I didn't remember anything of my rescue, but the details would have to wait for later, when my brain wasn't so fuzzy.

"No, it's not. I should have been there to protect you."

"I'm not arguing with you about this. We're both fine, and that's enough."

The doctor joined us then, pumping me full of morphine and taking me away into a blissful sleep as the pain seeped away from my body.
* * *

I was on the base for a week, half that time in the hospital tent while I recovered from my injuries. The worst part of my recovery was having to recount everything that had happened to the Major. I didn't like reliving all the ways the men had hit me in order to elicit information I didn't have.

Derrick visited me every day, but he had changed. His shoulders were slumped with the burden of what he had done. No amount of reassurances I gave him were enough to chase away those demons. He still blamed himself, and I couldn't say anything to change his mind.

It was a Thursday when I was told the news that I was being moved. A helicopter was on its way and would take me to another base, where an airplane would take me home.

I searched for Derrick all morning but couldn't find him anywhere. My search grew more desperate as the departure time drew nearer. He seemed to be nowhere, and nobody knew where he was.

"We have to go, ma'am," the pilot said. "We can't wait any longer."

I had no luggage or possessions to take with me, just a paper bag with a change of clothes someone on the base had given to me. Physically I was ready, but mentally I wasn't. I hadn't said goodbye to Derrick, and it was tearing me apart inside.

"Ma'am."

"Yes, okay," I replied, reluctantly allowing him to help me into my seat. My eyes scanned the area the entire time, searching for the man I would recognize anywhere now.

He didn't arrive.

He didn't say goodbye.

Derrick had to have known I was leaving that day. He seemed to know everything that happened on base. But, for whatever reason, he had avoided me instead of seeing me off.

I probably reminded him of his perceived mistake. He was probably grateful that I was leaving so he could move on. He wouldn't have to apologize anymore, even though I'd never wanted him to in the first place.

As the helicopter took off, my heart squeezed inside my chest. A single tear slid down my cheek as the deep hurt of him not being there filtered through me.
* * *

Everybody wanted to know about my time in Afghanistan when I arrived home. They made it sound like I had been on the adventure of a lifetime, like I was Indiana Jones or something.

There was no way to convey to them the intense fear and horror of what I had experienced while in the war zone. I gave them the sanitized version, the kind where I wasn't beaten and my heart wasn't broken.

It was difficult to adjust to normal life again. I kept catching myself looking over my shoulder and jumping at shadows. I searched for Derrick in every crowd I passed through, but he was never there.

I took a leave of absence from my job at the national newspaper. My boss was understanding when I told him I had some post-traumatic injuries that I needed some time to recover from. He didn't realize Derrick was a part of that trauma.

The scars I wore were on the inside. They made themselves known every time I jumped at a shadow. Or when I saw a couple kissing on the street. My heart was the most damaged out of all my organs.

The funny thing was that Derrick had accused me several times of running home and telling everyone about the bastard soldier who had fucked me over. He had believed I would do it with such conviction that nothing could change his mind.

But the last thing I wanted to do was tell people about him. Our time together was intrinsically intimate; it belonged to just the two of us. I didn't want to share that with anyone.

Yes, I was angry with him.

Yes, a part of me hated him for what he had done.

But the largest part of me was missing him, craving him, yearning for him. It wasn't just about the mind-blowing sex that made me horny every time I replayed it in my mind. It was about the connection I felt with him. I'd never encountered that kind of feeling before. I'd never really thought it existed in real life, believing that it was reserved for movies only.

I knew I would have to get over him, but I wasn't sure how. The sting of missing out on that final goodbye made everything that much harder. There was no closure, for me, at least.

# Chapter 16

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

"Fuck!" I yelled at the helicopter, but it didn't change anything.

Ariana was gone and there was nothing I could do about it. I'd been given orders at the crack of dawn to head out on a recon mission and hadn't made it back in time.

Just five minutes earlier and I would have been able to say goodbye. I didn't even have her phone number, or any idea where she lived. Sure, she'd told me some details, but it wasn't like having an actual address.

Then again, what good would it have done me anyway? We'd had some good times together, but seeing her scars only reminded me of how badly I had let her down. I would live with that guilt until the day I died.

I returned back to the hospital tent to check in on Marshall. He had suffered the worst injuries in the rescue raid on the Taliban.

Taking a seat next to his bed, I let out a sigh. He looked bad. "What's the verdict?" I asked.

"Not good," he replied. I was used to seeing Marshall alive, telling jokes, and taking nothing seriously. He seemed absolutely deflated now.

"What'd they say?"

His jaw clenched before he spoke. "They're going to take off my fucking leg. They say it's too mangled and damaged to repair. That it's a liability to me and slowly killing me."

"Fuck."

"You got that right."

I didn't know what I was supposed to say to a man who was about to lose his leg. There wasn't any kind of joke I could think of to lighten the mood and not enough words to tell him how sorry I was.

So we sat in silence until the doctor told me visiting time was over.

The next day they sent Marshall to Germany so he could have his leg amputated. I did manage to say goodbye to him, but I knew I would see him again. Marshall was my Army brother. We were bound for life.

Even as the weeks passed by, the ghost of Ariana never left me. She was in every one of my thoughts and haunted my dreams. I couldn't escape her. She was everywhere.

And yet she was nowhere.

When I'd first laid eyes on the woman, I'd thought she would be nothing but trouble, and I was right. I just wasn't expecting this kind of trouble.

My tour was due to end at the beginning of December. My troop received the news that we would be home for Christmas, and it livened us all up. We would be going from the hot desert to the snowy winter, and the relief from the heat would be more than welcome.

We were all excited – partly because of the fact we were going home, but mostly because we'd survived another tour. There was never any guarantee we'd be alive to return home when we shipped out, and we were the lucky ones that had.

Our military plane dropped us all off at the base in Fort Jefferson, Florida. We had to make our own way home from there.

I took a taxi to the civilian airport, nothing on me except my single bag of clothes and wallet. There were planes going everywhere, mostly fully booked in the lead-up to Christmas.

The next plane back to Ohio was in three hours. There was a plane leaving for New York in one.

"Sir? Can I help you?" the check-in girl asked expectantly.

I stood at the counter, my mind racing. Did I dare? Should I? Or was going home the better option? She probably didn't want to see me anyway. She'd probably forgotten all about me.

But... maybe she hadn't.

"Sir? I'm going to have to ask you to step aside so I can serve another customer, unless I can help you with something?" Her smile was perfect, her hair neat and smooth. The woman was hot, but held none of the sizzle that Ariana had.

"I'd like a ticket to New York, please," I replied. All the breath whooshed out of my lungs after the words were out. I had thrown caution to the wind. I just hoped I was doing the right thing.

# Chapter 17

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

I'd been invited to the Christmas party at the newspaper even while I was on extended leave. It was nice of them to make the gesture. A part of me just wanted to stay home, but that wasn't healthy.

So I threw on a pair of stilettos, a little black dress, and some red lipstick, and I went out, determined to have fun. I had to put the past behind me or I was going to drive myself insane.

The party was at the office but someone had gone to a lot of trouble making sure the decorations covered the real use of the space. Nobody was allowed to think of work tonight. It was purely about relaxing and letting off steam – with plenty of alcohol, of course.

It was good catching up with my colleagues, hearing about what they'd been up to both personally and professionally. But every time they asked me about my last story, I just flashed straight back to the horrible little room in the Taliban hideout.

I never expected to have my own story be the biggest one out of my trip to Afghanistan. I hadn't told it to anyone yet, not in full. It was safer telling other people's stories rather than my own.

"Ariana, good to see you," my old colleague, Brian, said as he leaned on the desk next to me. Judging by the fire in his breath, he'd hit the alcohol pretty hard already. "It seems like I haven't seen you in ages."

"I've been on extended leave," I replied.

"Yeah, I heard that. The word on the old grapevine says you had a bad time in Afghanistan. I was sorry to hear that."

"Thank you. It was difficult."

Brian was one of the better catches in the office. With his styled blond hair and mischievous grin, there were plenty of women that lusted after him.

He _was_ hot, and normally quite a gentleman when he hadn't been slamming the free beer. He was the kind of guy I would normally have gone for. "How's things for you, Brian? Like you said, it's been ages since we've spoken."

"All's good here. But you know what it's like – ridiculous deadlines and terrible editing demands. The stuff _you_ write – now _that's_ the sweet deal."

"If I don't come back, then my spot will be open."

Brian shook his head, his beer sloshing dangerously close to the edge of the plastic cup. "Nah, I want to see your sweet little ass back in that chair. Nobody else could do it like you can, Ari. Maybe we could talk about it over breakfast?"

He was being nice and made me glad I had come. But, still, there was something holding me back. "Thanks for the offer, but maybe another time."

I turned and walked away from Brian, finally able to put my finger on the reason I couldn't flirt back with him.

He wasn't Derrick.

Somehow, I had begun using Corporal Watson as the standard I would hold any man I spoke with up to. I doubted any of them would measure up.

But he had hurt me, and he didn't deserve to be the presence he was in my head. I had to get over him, and I'd thought I was making progress in that area. Yet, as I spoke with Brian, the soldier was also present. It was a sobering thought.

By nine o'clock I was ready to leave. The single cocktail I'd had wasn't enough to give me a buzz, and I just wanted to go home. My bed was calling, as was the solitude of my apartment.

My stilettos clicked on the floor in the deserted foyer as I made my way across. Everybody was having too good of a time inside to be leaving so early.

As I reached the door to the outside, I stopped dead in my tracks before colliding with someone that was entering. Before my trip to Afghanistan, I would have laughed it off, but now I jumped like every person I encountered still posed a threat to me.

I was only chest height with the person, a man. My eyes traveled upwards, taking him all in piece by piece. I found his neck, then his jaw, his lips, and then his brilliant blue eyes.

"Derrick?" All the air escaped from my lungs, choking in my throat at the sight of him. I had to look twice to make sure I was actually seeing him standing in front of me.

"Ariana, hi."

"What are you doing here?" It was only one of many, many questions I had for him.

"I came to find you," he said. He seemed equally surprised as I was at seeing him. "You said you worked here, so I was going to convince them to give me your address."

He smiled, and all those feelings I'd tried to suppress came rushing back in all at once. They were so powerful I nearly fell to my knees.

But he had let me leave the military base without even saying goodbye. He had no right to turn up at my workplace and do this to me. He didn't deserve all those warm feelings I had for him.

I stepped around him, forcing myself to turn my back on him. "You shouldn't have bothered," I said as I headed for my car.

Derrick easily caught up with me, matching my stride with his as I headed toward my car. "Please, Ariana, hear me out. I've missed you so much. You're all I can think about."

I clamped my lips together so I wouldn't say something I'd regret later. He really didn't realize how badly he had hurt me.

When I reached my car and climbed in, Derrick jumped into the passenger seat. I stared at him in disbelief. "What are you doing?"

"I've come a long way, Ariana. Please let me explain."

"Explain what? You made yourself quite clear back at the base when you let me leave without saying goodbye."

"I tried to, I really did. But I was sent on a mission, and you'd left by the time I got back."

"Oh, right, like you couldn't have left me a message or something?" I demanded.

"There was no time. When the Major tells you to go somewhere, you have to go immediately. You have no idea how much I wished I could have been there." His eyes flicked to his hands as he picked at his fingernail. "I would have promised you I would find you again."

His story seemed plausible, and it was making me melt by the second. Still, he'd had plenty of time to make things right. He might just have waited too long.

I started the car and began driving. There was no way he was going to get out of my car, and I would rather have an argument at my apartment rather than in front of my workplace.

You could have heard a pin drop as I drove. My anger was seething just below my skin. Part of that anger was at myself because of the way my stomach was doing backflips at seeing him again. Derrick affected me in ways I didn't want him to anymore.

I pulled the car into the underground parking of my apartment building. Derrick followed me into the elevator and right up to my front door without saying a word. The silence was killing me. It was almost as bad as arguing with him.

The moment I closed the front door and we were alone, I let it all go in one big rush. "You hurt me so much, Derrick. I don't care what your excuse is, you let me leave you in a friggin' war zone without a word. I thought I was never going to see you again."

He held up his arms in a defensive gesture. "I'm sorry, I really am. If I could go back and take that pain away from you, I would. In a heartbeat. I never intended to hurt you, no matter what happened between us."

Derrick had told me several times that he didn't do relationships. That he was a free spirit who could never commit and sex was the only thing he wanted from a woman. It made me wonder what he was doing in my apartment.

"Why did you come here?" I asked. We could yell at each other until we were both blue in the face, but there was no point. If he expected a quick fuck, then he shouldn't have bothered coming.

"I came to see you." He took a tentative step closer. "Ariana, you've done something to me. You make me think I could be a different man. You make me _want_ to be a different man."

"I'm not responsible for anything."

"Yes, you are."

I didn't believe him.

# Chapter 18

## Derrick

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

She was just as sexy and gorgeous as I'd remembered her. Maybe even more so. My memory hadn't made her into something impossible; it hadn't added any sparkle to her that she didn't already have.

Ariana was the one thing I wanted more than anything else in the world. To see her standing in front of me and not being able to hold her, to kiss her, to lick every inch of her body, was going to ruin me.

I had to convince her.

I had to make her see.

But I didn't know how. How was I supposed to convince her that I wanted to be the man she needed when I'd only shown her what a dick I was in the past? People weren't supposed to change as much as I had.

A part of me wished it was still my dick talking. I could have gone into any bar in the city, sweet-talked a woman for an hour, and fucked her in the restroom until I shot my load into her. I could have then zipped up and gone home, satisfied.

Ariana made that idea sour in my mind. She made me want the lovemaking, not the fucking. She made me yearn for the cuddling afterwards, our warm bodies cradling one another for hours after our shared delight. She made me want to care, to give more pleasure than I took.

But how did I explain all that to her?

She had no reason to believe me.

"Ariana, I can't live without you." That was the crux of the situation. I'd tried to get her out of my head, but it was impossible. She was the kind of woman you could never forget.

"You've done so for the past four months. You seem to be doing just fine," she said. "You shouldn't have come here. I don't want to see you."

My chest caved in as my heart deflated. I'd pictured this moment every long night I'd spent on the base, and it hadn't gone like this. It had been very, very different.

"If you really want me to leave, I will. I'd never force you into doing anything. But before you decide, please just look at me and tell me you didn't miss me too."

There it was, my heart on the table and able to be crushed by the woman I loved. And I was certain it was love I felt for her. My father used to tell me a story about my mother, saying he had just known she was the right one for him. They were engaged within three weeks. When I looked at Ariana, I got the same feeling. I finally understood his story.

Her sexy brown eyes stared at me, a thousand emotions flitting through them while she did. I tried to tell her everything I needed to through my gaze, but I couldn't be sure how successful I was. Ariana gave nothing away.

"Please give me a chance," I said. I would get down on my hands and knees if I had to. Whatever it took, I would do it.

For her.

For us.

Every part of my body was holding its breath while I waited to hear the verdict. I couldn't imagine going home or back to work after being rejected by her. I couldn't imagine my life without her anymore. It was all or nothing now. I had to have her.

She was my new addiction.

"Ariana," I prompted. "I just want a chance to show you how much I love you. Please give me that chance."

She took a breath, and my heart stopped beating to hear the words she had to say.

# Chapter 19

## Ariana

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

Images of the future were flashing through my mind. Scenes both with and without Derrick in them. When I had first met him, I'd never expected him to be saying he loved me. Maybe I'd hoped, but I'd never believed.

Corporal Derrick Watson loved me.

The honesty in his eyes told me his story wasn't fictitious. He'd wanted to say goodbye to me but couldn't. It still didn't take away the sting, but it did help it start to heal.

He loved me.

Did I love him? Derrick was a heartbreaker; he'd told me so himself when we were in Afghanistan. Now he was asking me to believe he could be with someone and spend more than one or two nights with them.

As I gazed into his eyes, I could see a future with him. A real one. It might be heartbreaking, and it definitely wouldn't be easy, but I could see one.

And I wanted it.

"I love you too," I whispered. The moment the words left my lips I knew they were true. We'd shared a horrible experience together, but we'd both made it out alive. We were changed because of it, but maybe that was a good thing.

Derrick wrapped me up in his arms, pulling me close against him. He smelled just like I remembered, his cologne lingering on his skin. It felt right to be hugging him, like it was a place I was supposed to be.

His lips landed on mine, a sweet kiss to seal our love. It ignited everything inside of me, sending searing fire through my veins. It was almost like I didn't believe he was really there, in my living room, before that kiss.

He cradled my cheeks, letting me go only long enough to draw me back to him. The kiss deepened, promising the pleasure I knew he was capable of.

Derrick picked me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. "You should give me a tour of your apartment," he growled in my ear. "Let's start with the bedroom."

I nodded toward the room on the right. "It's over there. But I haven't made my bed today, you've caught me out."

"Babe, the bed is only going to get messed up anyway." Derrick let out a breathy laugh. I should have known he wouldn't care about an unmade bed, not after sleeping in a room with several other men every night.

He carried me to the bedroom, and we fell backwards onto the bed together. I didn't want to let him go, just in case he really wasn't there and he would vanish if I wasn't touching him.

"This dress is so sexy, babe. But it still needs to come off."

Derrick pulled me up into a sitting position so he could slide the dress up my body and over my head. I was wearing a black lace bra-and-panties set. I was grateful I'd gone to some effort to get dressed for the party, even if I hadn't expected anyone to see them.

I moved forward and straddled Derrick, undoing the buttons on his uniform one by one. He was wearing his camouflage, the material coarse under my skin. Once his shirt was undone, I pushed it over his shoulders, revealing his hard and muscled chest underneath.

I kissed down his sternum, satisfied to feel his shiver under my touch. When I reached his pants, I undid them, searching through the fabric for his cock. It was hard already as my hand grasped it. I was still surprised by the size of it as anticipation coursed through me.

Derrick suddenly grabbed me and pressed his lips onto mine. He took advantage of his greater size and gently lowered me down onto the pillows. He did away with his pants, then stood before me, gloriously naked.

He crawled up my body like a lion stalking its prey. "These panties are sexy, babe, but they still have to come off."

"Be my guest."

His finger slipped under the edge of my panties, skimming my clit just enough to offer a tease of what was to come. It was beautiful having sex this way, in a proper bed without the threat of being discovered by the enemy weighing on us. We could take our time and really enjoy ourselves.

Both his hands took one side each of my panties before he slid them down my legs, leaving goose bumps along my skin everywhere he touched. Derrick could feel the difference in our surroundings, too, and I could tell he was enjoying the time we had.

His body covered mine while his hands went exploring. He rolled me onto my side, unclasping my bra until it loosened and then making it disappear over the side of the bed. There was no fabric between us now, each of us as naked and vulnerable as the other.

He rolled my nipple between his fingers before he took it in his mouth and sucked on it, making my pussy pulse down below. As much as I enjoyed going slow, everything south of my waist was begging for him to go faster.

"You've got amazing tits," Derrick said, his breath skimming over my skin. "I'm never going to get tired of sucking on them."

"I hope you don't," I replied. He laughed and suckled again, switching to the other breast so both my nipples were cool in the breeze when he let go.

He kissed along my collarbone, sweet butterflies as he moved to my neck. The stubble of his five-o'clock shadow tickled my sensitive skin, making me giggle as he moved. He was working me into a frenzy of sensation, taking me right to the brink of ecstasy before we even really started.

While our lips kissed and our tongues danced together, his hand slid down my body and into the mound of my pussy. He started massaging my clit, lazily stroking the nub and then rubbing circles around the area.

"Hmm," I moaned.

He kissed me harder. The thickness of his erection was pressing into my belly, reminding me how much he was enjoying the moment too. I couldn't wait to have him inside me, both of us drawing close to the peak of our joy.

His hand was magical, making everything sing a rhythm of pure happiness inside me. I couldn't get enough of it, but he continued to keep me on the brink, taking me as high as I could go without plunging off the edge. I was a frenzied mess of want and need.

"Derrick," I pleaded.

"Not time yet, babe. We're both going to come together." He whispered the words to me, making it seem like it was a secret between just us two. Perhaps it was. Nobody else deserved to know about this special moment.

He shifted my body so he could settle between my legs. His finger stopped its relentless caressing of my clit so he could position his cock at my entrance. I waited for the moment of connection, the anticipation almost too much to take.

All the muscles of his arms flexed as he held himself above me, his eyes locking with mine as he pushed himself into me. His cock was thick and long, forcing him to take it slowly so I could accommodate his generous size.

My legs linked around his, locking our bodies together so we rocked at the same time. My walls stretched to take him in, and I reveled in our connection and the sensation he gave me of being full. Only when he was buried deep inside me could I start to be sated.

Derrick treated me to hundreds of kisses as his lips made their way down my neck and back up to my mouth again. He started bucking his hips, his cock moving in and out of me in a quickening rhythm.

"Fuck, you feel good," he whispered, another secret to share. "I love you so much, babe."

"I love you too," I replied. Our eyes never left one another while he thrust. His enjoyment was written in every feature of his face, including the set determination in the clench of his jaw.

His touch left me wondering how I'd lived so long without it. He ignited a spark deep in my belly, the heat radiating outwards and threatening to set the world on fire. Surely this much pure pleasure should have been illegal.

The four months we'd spent apart was nothing. It was like no time had passed at all. We should have been doing this long ago, not waiting this long to reunite. It was time we'd wasted.

Our bodies writhed together as one, the sound of our skin slapping together mingled with our moans of happiness. My nerves were so sensitive I could feel everything like the moment was amplified a thousandfold.

Derrick's magical fingers toyed with my clit, tugging and flicking it until I thought I would explode. It was beautiful torture, sizzling hot and taking my arousal to a whole new level.

I was just teetering on the cusp, so close to my climax I could feel the early spread of warmth through my body. Derrick's teeth were clenched tight, his muscles all contracted as he fought for his own control.

We were a moving mass of wanton need. It was worth everything we'd gone through to get to this one perfect moment. I never wanted him to leave me again, I couldn't exist without this kind of joy again.

"Come, babe. Come for me," Derrick urged. His fingers backed up his order, flicking my clit and then rubbing it hard with the palm of his hand.

The heat shot out from my belly, filling everything in my being with the pure ecstasy of the orgasm. I was on fire in the most delicious way possible. My legs pulled Derrick closer just as he found his own release.

He grunted as his cock exploded inside me. He shoved his manhood in deeper, burying himself completely while his cum spilled within my walls.

I closed my eyes and let the happiness spill through me. Everything was relaxed and sated while my breath was ragged. I didn't think my heart would be able to swell any further for my soldier man but somehow it did. It beat solely for him, he was my lifeblood, my everything.

My body and soul was alive, shattering apart with the sheer thrill of the orgasm. It was so much better than anything we'd shared before. This time it was real – we belonged to each other, and it wasn't just a onetime thing.

I looked forward to spending the rest of my life with Derrick. Tonight was only just the beginning. We'd have every day to be together and learn more about one another. It was a future I'd always dreamed of.

Derrick's weight rested on me while he pieced himself back together. His body was sculptured and muscled, a perfect specimen of everything a male body could be. To think he was all mine was enough to make me smile forever.

I was never going to be able to remove that grin from my face. While he was there, it would be a permanent fixture.

"Babe, you have no idea how much I enjoyed that," he sighed.

"I have a fair idea."

Derrick laughed before rolling to the side and taking me with him. His cock was still inside me, very slowly starting to lose its erection. His arms circled me, making sure we remained together in the afterglow of the moment.

"This is crazy," he said.

"What's so crazy about it?" For just a moment I felt a stab of doubt that threatened to take away the serenity I was basking in.

"I never thought I could feel this way about someone, and you just pop up into my life and change everything. It's crazy."

"I guess when you put it like that, it is. For what it's worth, I never thought I'd be able to feel this intensely for someone I barely know either," I replied. A part of me still couldn't believe it. It felt like I'd known Derrick my entire life, maybe even beyond that.

He continued to hold me for the rest of the night. I fell asleep in his embrace, and it was the absolutely perfect way to end the night.

Tomorrow we could deal with reality.

# Chapter 20

## Derrick

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Ariana had the most gorgeous expression on her face as she slept. I could have watched her for hours while I cradled a cup of coffee. I was used to the early mornings, but she wasn't.

It was nice having those few moments to myself so I could think about things. I got to see her as nobody else did, so relaxed and peaceful. She never slept like that when we were in Afghanistan.

The thought of telling her about my past was daunting. I knew I would have to sooner or later, but I didn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes when she knew I had been a drug addict.

Maybe I would wait, save that for a time when she really knew the current me. Maybe she would see that I'd changed, enough to continue loving me while knowing about my past.

I could have watched her all day, but she stirred awake, catching me staring at her like a creeper. She smiled and stretched before she pulled the sheet up to her shoulders. Having an unobstructed view of her naked body had been more than nice, too.

"Good morning," she said lazily. "What time is it?"

"Ten to seven. Do you want a coffee?"

She shook her head no. "Have you been up for long? You should have woken me."

"I've been entertaining myself, it's okay," I joked. I was treated to one of her sexy-as-hell smiles. "You can sleep for longer if you want to."

She pulled herself up to a sitting position, the pesky sheet still covering those magnificent tits. Just looking at her made my cock spring to life. It was going to be hours before I let her get out of that bed.

"If I sleep, I lose precious time with you," she said, taking my coffee mug and having a sip before returning it. "I'm guessing you're not here to stay permanently."

I hated the look of disappointment that was now reflected in her eyes. Last night had been incredible, but there was no way to avoid the obvious. "I'm on leave, between tours."

"How long until you have to return for duty?"

"We ship out on New Year's."

One eyebrow arched over her doe-brown eyes. "They couldn't even wait one more day?"

"No rest for the wicked." My attempt at humor didn't make any difference. There was no way around the fact that I had to leave her. Again. "I want to make this work, Ariana. I really, really do."

She sighed and picked at her fingernail for a few moments while my heart was on the line and waiting for an answer. This woman could destroy me with a handful of words. It was the scariest shit I'd ever experienced.

And that was saying a lot.

Her pink little lips finally started moving, putting me out of my misery. "I want it to work, too. You're going to be gone a lot, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am."

"I'm going to be spending a lot of time missing you, worrying about you, and so scared you aren't going to return to me."

I took her hands so she couldn't damage them, holding them in mine so she would know I was deadly serious about what I was about to say. "I promise you there will be one more _hello_ than there are _goodbyes_. I promise I will do everything I can to return to you. It's not always going to be like this."

"I've seen how dangerous it is over there."

"You also know I have my troop brothers to watch my back."

"That didn't help Marshall," she pointed out. Every time I thought about him, I felt sick to my stomach. The last time I spoke with my comrade, he was still trying to deal with the loss of his leg. He was on permanent leave until further notice.

"It's a risk we all take to protect our nation," I replied. There was no use skirting around the issue. The harsh reality was that I could die in service to my country. It was a risk I was willing to take for the greater good. I hoped Ariana could understand that, even just a little bit.

She sprung over and hugged me to her tightly. I could feel her tits as they crushed against my chest and only felt slightly like a dick for noticing.

When she pulled back, I focused on her eyes. "Let's not think about it. Let's spend the rest of the year pretending you don't have to leave."

"I like the sound of that."

I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her deeply. I already knew it was going to be the best Christmas I ever had.

We would make it work.

Any way we could.

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Special Thanks

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First off, I'd like to thank you for reading! I truly hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to hearing any feedback you have on it by way of review, email, or on my website.

Special thanks goes out to everyone who has been in contact with me about my previous stories. I wouldn't have continued writing if it wasn't for the awesome feedback/reviews from you! :)

About The Author

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If you're interested in short erotica, check out Leila's other pen name, Kenzie Haven!
