“You’d be wrong.” Elise says softly from the door of the bathroom. Deadeye whips around to see her standing there. She’s dressed in the clothes the nurse had given her at the hospital. Her hair still damp from her shower. Her face is flushed. Deadeye isn’t sure if it’s from the hot water or her declaration. Before he thinks too much about what he is doing he crosses the room and takes her in his arms, while still holding onto the phone. She wraps her arms around his waist and rests her head on his chest.
“I shouldn’t feel this way after all that has happened to me in the last week, but I am strongly attracted to you, Warren.” Elise’s breath wafts against Deadeye’s neck as she speaks. It has his dick hardening in his pants as he thinks about her breath on his cock.
“Well, Deadeye. I think you need to hang up the phone now before I hear more than I should of this conversation.” Hawk says while laughing into the phone. “I’ll make sure her brother is waiting in Germany. Good luck, brother. I’m more than happy for you.” The phone clicks off.
“I’m attracted to you too, Elise. I haven’t ever felt like this, about anyone. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I know you have been through the most horrible situation. I’m always a professional. I don’t get involved with people we are sent to help, but the first time I saw your picture I was drawn to you. Like a moth to a flame.” Deadeye’s voice is low and husky. He can’t hide the desire he is feeling at holding this woman in his arms. “I promise to not do anything out of line. I just want to stay close to you.”
“Warren, I know we don’t really know one another, but when you are with me, I feel safe, protected. I’m not going to want to let you go when we get home. What will happen? I’m scared, to be alone.” Elise’s voice cracks as fresh tears stream down her face. She tightens her grip on his shirt. He squeezes his arms around her and rocks her gently.
“Please don’t cry, sweetheart. I hate to see you cry. I don’t know for sure what will happen. The commander of our team, Hawk and his wife Charlotte have large place with plenty of rooms. They would be happy to let you stay with them…I have my own place in Jacksonville, too. You can stay with me if you want. I have an extra room…until you are ready for more.” Deadeye wants to make her comfortable enough to want to stay with him. He wants her in his bed every night, but he can be patient until she is ready for that.
“My parents will be upset, Warren. They treat me like I’m still a child. I know it’s because I was sick for so long and they honestly thought I was going to die, but I am past that. I’m ready to be an adult and make my own decisions.” Elise raises her head to look at Deadeye. “I choose you, Warren. If you’ll have me.”
Damn! He was overwhelmed. He wanted her, too, but was worried her feelings were all because he was the one who had rescued her from a hellhole. Would she realize that later and destroy him when she left him? What should he do? Savor her while he could? Or give up any chance at happiness? He should try to convince her take things slowly, give herself time to figure out what she really wanted, but the selfish, bastard in him wanted her more.
“God, sweetheart. Of course, I’ll have you. I will always be here for you.” Deadeye’s voice is about to break with the emotions flying around in his head. “When we get back, I will have a few days off before I will be back up for another mission. We can figure things out then, ok? Try not to worry.” He dips down to look into her beautiful eyes.
Elise nods in answer. Deadeye places a soft kiss on her forehead before releasing his hold on her. He turns to gather up the rest of his gear. He takes her right elbow in his hand as he leads her out of the barracks and toward the hanger where they would board the plane bound for Germany. His step is a little lighter now that he knows she wants to be with him as much as he wants her.
When they board the plane, Elise is still glued to his side. He can’t keep the smile off his face. As the others file onto the plane, Deadeye notices that Ace is grinning like a Cheshire cat. Tank, Hack, Virus, Straw, Mercury, Wallace, and Bull all find seats on the plane. Worm is carried aboard, and his stretcher is secured along one side of the plane. Deadeye takes Elise toward a long bench seat in the back of the plane. He helps her get strapped in before strapping himself in next to her. He intends to let her lay down and sleep once they are airborne. He is annoyed when Mercury, Straw, and Tank come back to take the seats near them. He wants to keep Elise to himself, but he won’t be rude to his men. After all, without their help he could never have rescued her by himself. He was indebted to them. Once they are in the air, he undoes his seatbelt and helps Elise out of hers.
“Do you want to lay down sweetheart? I know you must be exhausted.” Deadeye can see it in her eyes.
“I’m not sure I can sleep. I’m still a little shaken after everything.” Elise confesses softly to him. He nods his head in understanding. He wraps his left arm around her shoulders and pulls her to his side as his kisses her right temple. She melts into his side and it feels heavenly. He just holds her as the roar of the plane’s engines lull her to sleep. It’s a long flight so after a while he eases himself down onto the bench seat and takes Elise with him. He adjusts her so that she is mostly laying on top of him with her head on his chest. After basking in the glow of happiness at having her in his arms, sleep finally takes him.
Deadeye is awakened by Tank’s deep rumbling voice in his ear. “Hey, we are getting ready to land. You need to get her secured so you both don’t hit the floor when we touch down.” Deadeye is thankful for Tank’s insight and thoughtfulness. It would have been a rude awakening to be slammed onto the hard floor of the plane at touch down. Gently he tries to awaken Elise, thankful that this time she didn’t wake with a nightmare.
“Elise, sweetheart. We are about to land in Germany. Can you wake up for me?” Deadeye murmurs in her left ear as her head still rests on his chest. Her eyes flutter before opening fully. They are wide and fearful at first, but when they settle on him, she relaxes against his chest once again. It warms his heart the trust he can see in her eyes when she looks at him. She yawns then covering her mouth with her left hand and a shy smile crosses her face and her cheeks color with redness.
“Did you sleep well, sweetheart?” Deadeye asks her. She nods and begins to try to sit up. He helps her and notices his fellow teammates are watching them intently. He scowls at them until they turn their attention to other things and gives them a small measure of privacy. Once she is upright, Deadeye buckles her back into her seatbelt and prepares for the landing. As the plane descends, he takes her right hand in his left and twines their fingers together. She gives him a little smile and a quick squeeze of his hand. It assures him that she is ok for the moment.
When they land at the base in Germany, they are greeted by several officials including Elise’s brother, Edward. He is waiting near the foot of the stairs as they disembark from the plane. Deadeye was still holding her hand until she sees her brother. She turns loose of him and runs down the last few steps and falls into her brother’s arms. She is sobbing against him and Deadeye can’t help but feel a little jealous. He wants to be the one she seeks comfort from when she is hurting. He knows though that he can’t keep her from her own brother.
After a few touching moments of their reunion, she turns away from Edward and reaches for Deadeye causing his heart to swell with pride that she wanted to be near him. He goes to her immediately. She grips his hand tightly as she turns back to face the men standing around watching everyone leave the plane. Worm is carried down to a waiting ambulance. Straw and Mercury accompany him to the hospital.
“Edward I would like for you to meet Warren. He and his men rescued me from the men holding me.” Elise’s voice cracks a little as she makes the introductions. Deadeye extends his right hand out to Edward who is eyeing him skeptically. Edward’s gaze drops to Deadeye’s and Elise’s joined hands. Edward gives Deadeye’s hand a firm shake as his eyes raise to meet Deadeye’s gaze. The two men size one another up as they shake hands. Elise’s soft sigh brings the men out of the trance they seemed to have fallen into. Deadeye gives her hand a small quick squeeze. She graces him with a shy smile. Her brother speaks up about that time.
“Elise are you alright?” Edward asks then turns to Deadeye before she can even answer. “Does she need to be seen at the hospital here?” Deadeye assures him she was thoroughly checked and medically cleared before they boarded the plane to come here.
“I can get us reservations at a top-notch restaurant here if you are hungry.” Edward says after a concerned look toward Elise. She has leaned into Deadeye and he wraps an arm around her waist supporting her weight with his body. Edward frowns at the obvious display of affection between the couple but doesn’t make a comment. They are interrupted then by a man from the airport approaching them.
“Staff Sergeant Vickers?” The man questions as he stops to stand in front of them.
“Yes?” Deadeye answers the man.
“I’m Lieutenant Stearns. I just wanted to let you know it will be tomorrow morning before we will have you ready to head back to the states. Do I need to make sleeping arrangements for you and your team?” Deadeye can tell the man is anxious to solve this matter quickly.
“Yes, please that would be helpful.” Deadeye informs the man. Stearns quickly turns to head back toward the hangers but is stopped by Edward’s commanding voice.
“We can put them up on base. There are several open bunk rooms.” Edward informs the Lieutenant who nods in response. He continues on his way toward the hangers to make arrangements for the marines. Deadeye’s attention is turned back toward Edward when he hears him speaking quietly to Elise.
“Elise, you can stay with me at my apartment until time for you to return here for the trip back home.” Edwards is telling her. Her eyes widen and she immediately looks to Deadeye. He can’t help but to give her a little smile. He wants to assure her everything will be ok, but he isn’t sure that is the case. Before he can respond, Elise is speaking.
“Edward, could Warren stay with us, too?” Edward frowns at her, but she continues before he can shut her down. “I would feel more comfortable with him there. It may seem silly to you, but he makes me feel safer after everything that happened.” Elise is trembling now, and Deadeye tightens his hold on her in silent support. Edward doesn’t look happy, but he nods in agreement. Edward would do anything to help his sister.
Elise can feel the tension between her brother and Warren. She doesn’t want to be the reason the two men don’t get along, but she knows Edward too well. He will never be satisfied with anyone she ever tries to date or have a relationship with. He has always been an overprotective big brother and will be more so now that she has been taken hostage by terrorists. Elise isn’t sure she can explain how she feels, but she is drawn to Warren in an almost primal way. She needs to be close to him. His strength and confidence keeps her from falling apart after all that happened to her. She thinks to herself how she can explain it to Edward so that he will understand just how much she needs Warren.
Chapter 11
