Bending down, Teddy gently brushes his lips over mine. Opening to him immediately, I just inhale as he claims my mouth, exploring every inch of it. With a moan, he pulls back with a grin.
“I don’t know how you can stand to be near me? Even I gag every time I get a whiff. Any possibility of finding a shower around here? Maybe a shave?”
With a laugh, I take his hand pulling him out of the tent with me. The post has settled back down for the night, so we have much of it to ourselves. Turning loose of my hand, Teddy grabs a backpack on our way out of the tent.
I finally have a chance to really look at him in the light outside the mess tent. He doesn’t just look tired, he looks exhausted. He’s covered in dirt with at least a three-week-old beard covering his face. His hair is also longer and greasy. I slide my arm around his waist to walk him to the shower tent, ignoring the odor wafting off of him.
“Are you sure you want to get that close to me? I really don’t smell that great.”
“I don’t care. I’m just so happy you’re here.”
Teddy leans over, giving me a kiss on the temple.
“Wow! You are pretty pungent though.”
“Tried to warn you but, as always, you were too stubborn to listen.”
I open my mouth to argue when I hear him quietly laughing as we arrive at the showers.
“Okay, smart-ass. Here is how you turn on the shower,” I say, demonstrating how it works. “You’ll only have about five minutes of lukewarm water, if you’re lucky.”
Teddy is digging through his bag pulling out what he needs.
“I washed my underwear in water out of a well yesterday after three days of wearing them. Any water will feel amazing.”
When the water turns on, I hear a deep laugh from inside.
“There’ll be no shower sex in here, that’s for sure. This thing is barely bigger than I am, but I guess it beats a bottle of water.”
Within minutes the water shuts off.
“Do you want me to find you something to eat?” I call through the tent door.
“No, I’m not that hungry. I just need sleep, then I’ll be good again.” He emerges smelling much better, dressed in a fresh pair of fatigues and a T-shirt one of the soldiers left near his bag.
“We’ll go see if Ms. Shieffer knows where you can bunk.” Waiting for him to gather his stuff back into his pack, I motion for him to follow me.
“I can sleep on the floor anywhere. Just need a blanket.”
We walk back across camp toward my tent, Teddy keeping me tucked into his side. Slipping inside, I find my boss sitting on the edge of her cot. Standing, she grasps my arms, holding me out as she looks at me.
“Are you alright?” When I nod, she continues, “He can take Jay’s bed. It seems that Jay is now sleeping chained to a pole. The army is insisting on dealing with him since we were on government property,” Ms. Shieffer informs me, a smile slowly lighting up her face.
“I really thought I could handle it without causing problems. I’m so sorry.” I can’t help but feel that there was more I could have done to prevent this. A shiver runs up my spine at the thought of what would have happened if Teddy hadn’t gotten there in time.
“Sometimes, Sophia, it’s okay to ask for help, especially with this kind of problem. Tell your friend to be ready to go at six tomorrow morning so we can leave for some much deserved rest.” She pulls the blanket back on her bed before turning back to stop me before I can leave. “And come in quietly. I plan on being asleep,” she says with a wink.
I walk out of the tent to find Teddy asleep on his feet. Linking our hands together, I pull him to one of the tents. There is snoring from the other bunks, so I ease him inside, pointing to the cot that used to be Jay’s. Teddy wraps his arm around my waist, pushing me down under him as he drops onto the cot. I desperately try to stifle a squeal of surprise.
Our mouths crash together as he settles his body over mine, his hardness resting deliciously in the apex between my thighs. I try, unsuccessfully, to silence the moan that escapes my mouth as his tongue invades it with a possession I have only felt in my dreams over the last month. I had almost forgotten how good Teddy tasted.
When his hand slides up my stomach, finding my aching breast, my hands slide into his hair as I arch up, trying to pull him even closer. There is a small creak of the cot when he releases my mouth with a roll of his hips before his tongue makes its way down my neck.
“Son, unless you plan on sharing, you need to put your toys away for the night.” The voice comes out of the darkness across from us as the realization we aren’t alone crashes into me.
How could I forget we are in the middle of a tent full of men trying to get some rest? With a quick kiss, I wiggle out from under Teddy to his grumbled protest. Straightening my clothes, I hurry from the tent. With the memory of his strong body holding me close, I smile as I duck into my own tent, my heart still pounding.
The next morning, I enter the mess tent to applause and catcalls. Teddy is surrounded at the table by soldiers laughing at a joke or story. He is so beautiful, it still takes my breath away every time I see him.
