“I don’t think Elise is ready to be out in public just yet.” Deadeye informs her clueless brother. Edward eyes him, hard. He frowns but doesn’t argue. He brings them some sandwiches, fresh fruit, and vegetables. They eat in a tense silence for a while. Deadeye can tell Edward is uncomfortable and that he isn’t sure what to say or do to help Elise. Deadeye wishes there was some way he could ease the tension between them.
“So, Edward. How’s it going over here? Will you be stationed here for much longer?” Deadeye inquires to break the tension in the room. Edward looks up at him in surprise, but then as if he realizes what Deadeye is trying to do, he smiles and answers the questions.
“It’s been good, actually. I’m enjoying my job here, but I do hope to be back State side soon. I will be up for a move in a few months. I’m hoping to be close to Annapolis when I am reassigned. Mom and Dad were worried sick when I joined up. It would be nice to be close to them again. At least on the same continent. It would ease their mind some.” Edward concludes. He wisely left out any mention of being in danger from ISIS or the Taliban. Deadeye was thankful of his tact. He doesn’t want Elise to be reminded of her time in captivity.
Elise yawns, but tries to hide it behind her hand. Despite the nap she had on the plane, Deadeye knows it will take a lot more time before she has recovered from her ordeal. He doesn’t even know the half of what she suffered through. He will make sure she gets the rest and recovery she needs. Deadeye stands then and takes Elise’s hand.
“Time for you to get some sleep, sweetheart.” Deadeye says as he helps her to stand. The sweet look in her eyes as she gazes at him, takes his breath for a moment. They stand staring into each other’s eyes. Finally, she nods in agreement. Deadeye grabs her bag of belongings and leads her to the bathroom. She hesitates for a moment before taking the bag from his hand and turning to enter the small room.
“Hey, what’s wrong sweetheart? Are you going to be ok? Are you feeling sick?” Deadeye can’t keep his hand off her arm stopping her from turning away from him. Her eyes find his again and he notices the tears that have formed but she has refused to let them fall.
“I’m ok, Warren. I…I just really don’t want to be alone tonight.” She looks up at him with such longing in her eyes there is no way he can deny her. He pulls her close to him. His left arm around her waist with his right hand in her hair, stroking it gently. He notices Edward at the entrance to the hall giving him an evil eye, but Deadeye ignores him. Elise is much more important right now. She needs him and the comfort he can provide.
“You won’t be alone, sweetheart, I’m right here. I won’t go anywhere. Now go in and get yourself ready for bed, yeah?” Deadeye whispers into her ear before placing a kiss on her forehead. She nods against his chest and reluctantly pulls away with a shy smile before entering the bathroom and closing the door. Deadeye turns to face her pissed off brother. They need to settle this before Elise emerges from the bathroom.
“Not here.” Deadeye whispers as he passes Edward at the end of the hall. Edward wisely turns and follows him back to the dining area away from where Elise might hear their conversation. As soon as they are out of ear shot, Edward launches into him.
“What the hell is going on, Vickers? Why is my sister clinging to you like you’re her damn life preserver in the middle of the God damned ocean?” Edward whisper-screams at him. Deadeye can practically see the steam coming out of his ears. Edwards face has reddened in anger.
“Look, Sommers. She has been through Hell over there. I was the first one she saw when she came to as we crossed the desert. For herI amher damned life preserver. I got her out of that hellhole that bastard had her in. I carried her away from there and I have been at her side for every fucking moment since and I will be by her side as long as she needs me.” Deadeye is breathing hard by the time he has finished his tirade. He didn’t even realize he had stepped closer to Edward as he spoke. He was practically in his face by the time he recognized what he had done. He let out the breath he was holding and took a step back.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get in your face.” Deadeye says apologetically to Edward. “Elise is important to me. I won’t do anything to hurt her, Edward. That is the last thing I want to do. She has suffered enough already.”
“I am the one who should be sorry.” Edward says quietly. “It’s just she’s my little sister. I have always tried to protect her, and this was one thing I couldn’t save her from. It just goads me a little that she is looking to you for the comfort I want to give her. I’m thankful you are kind to her. I know you are going above and beyond what is required and for her sake I am thankful, but she is vulnerable right now. You could easily break her heart, man. Destroy her. I’ve seen that look on women’s faces before. It’s more than gratitude that you rescued her. Don’t hurt her.”
“I would never intentionally hurt her, Edward. She is special. I don’t know how to explain it, but the first time I saw her picture in the briefing room, I knew she was going to change my life.” Deadeye makes sure to look Edward in the eyes. “I intend to make our relationship long term if she is willing. I’m not in this for a quick fuck. She deserves much more than that.”
Edward bristled at his frank language, but he nodded his understanding. He didn’t want to admit it, but he admired Deadeye’s bold and impassioned speech. Edward is hoping that Deadeye is a serious and an honorable man. He would have to kill him if he hurts his baby sister. Edward didn’t relish the idea of going to prison for life, but he would to defend his sister, if the need arose.
Elise comes back into the main area several minutes later. Deadeye can see the fatigue in her eyes. Dark circles have formed under them and the glow he noticed in the picture that was shown to them in the briefing room so many days ago, is gone. She pads into the room on bare feet and takes a seat next to him on the couch. Edward is sitting off to their right in a large recliner. The television is on for noise, but they haven’t really been watching it. Deadeye reaches for her hand and squeezes it gently. She looks up at him with a half-smile.
“I’ll just be a minute, sweetheart. Then we will head to bed.” Deadeye catches the jerk of Edward’s head, but wisely he doesn’t comment. Deadeye gets up then and grabs his bag before heading to the small bathroom. As soon as the door shuts on the bathroom, Edward turns on Elise.
“Elise, what is going on between you two?” Edward’s voice is soft, but insistent. “You don’t really know him. I know he rescued you and for that I am thankful, but you don’t need to get mixed up with a Marine, especially one that is in Special Ops. He is in constant danger. His next mission could easily be his last. I don’t want you falling in love only to end up getting your heart broken.”
“Edward, I appreciate your concern, but I am a grown woman now. I can make decisions for myself. I know what I’m doing. Granted the last big one I made landed in the hands of a psycho, but still, I need to be able to make my own mistakes.” Elise looks at Edward without backing down like she might have in the past. “I am not just attracted to him because he saved me. There were a lot of other men with him that day and I don’t feel this way about them. It’s him, Edward. I’m drawn to him for some reason. I need him, right now. Please be understanding. Don’t make a big deal out of him sleeping with me, tonight. I have been having nightmares and he is able to help me calm down when I wake. That’s all we’ll be doing. I’m not ready for anything else and besides, he is a gentleman. Not only that, but this place is too small for you not to hear if we did do anything.” Elise gives him a ridiculous smile as her cheeks flushed red.
“Damn, Elise. Don’t be talking about having sex in my house. Jezz, you’re my baby sister.” Edward blows out a frustrated breath. “I don’t even want to know how much you know about it.” Elise can’t help but laugh at that and Edward soon joins her. Once they are under control, Edward gets serious again.
“Elise, whatever you need to be comfortable. I’m so fucking sorry you had to go through that. Mom and Dad are so pissed at me for not talking you out of coming over here. I should have said something, but I knew they were smothering you. It’s just because they love you and worry about you. I felt like you needed the chance to spread your wings and find your own way. I wish this hadn’t happened, Squirt.”
“Edward, you haven’t called me that in years.” Elise scolds him with a smile to let him know she is teasing. “I’m well past being a squirt, but I appreciate you standing up for me. It ended badly that’s for sure, but I needed the independence. Mom and Dad still see me as the sick kid that they didn’t know if I would live to see 18 much less than this ripe old age of 27.” Elise chuckles briefly. “I’m not sorry that I volunteered to be at the refugee camp, but I hate every moment I was in the hands of that asshole. I will never be the same, Edward. I was so naïve. Didn’t see the dangers and for that I have to suffer the consequences.”
“Oh, sis I’m so sorry.” Edward comes to her then and takes her in his arms. Elise cries softly against him for several minutes. After a time, she gets herself together. She raises up wiping her tears and gives him a wobbly smile.
“Thanks, Edward. Sorry I made a mess of your uniform.” Elise suppresses a giggle. Edward just smiles at her tenderly.
“You can ruin my uniform anytime, Squirt. I’m glad you are here, alive, and in one piece.” Edward says sincerely. He pulls her in for another tight hug before releasing her. “Now you need to get to bed and get some sleep. I can see you are exhausted.” Elise nods and moves to head down the hall toward the guest room.
Chapter 12
Deadeye is waitingfor her just inside the room when she enters the small bedroom. It has a full-size bed with a dark brown comforter and big fluffy pillows. A small window is on the other side of the room but it’s too dark outside for Elise to tell anything about what the view might be like. A small chest of drawers sit against the right wall near the foot of the bed and there is small nightstand on this side of the bed.
Elise places her bag on the floor near the door next to Warren’s bag. She is suddenly nervous to be alone with Warren. They haven’t really had a moment to themselves since he saved her from her nightmare. It is all too real they will be sleeping side by side in a real bed. Her breathing has picked up, goosebumps are popping up on her skin, and a burning desire she shouldn’t be feeling has settled between her legs. She shouldn’t be feeling this way, especially after the torture she endured at the hands of a psychotic bastard. Still, she can’t deny the desire running through her at the moment.
“Sweetheart, I can sleep on the couch.” Warren whispers in her ear. He had stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as she had stared like an idiot at the bed. It was as if he could read her mind and could sense her unease.
“No, Warren. I need you with me.” Elise says softly as she leans into his embrace. “I’m sorry to space out on you. I’m not afraid. I know you won’t do anything I’m not ready for. It’s…it’s just I’m afraid my body wants more than what my mind can handle right now.” Elise can feel the heat in her face. She shouldn’t be talking to Warren in such a way. She has never been good at flirting or playing the games lovers play. She is 27 and still a virgin. What would Warren think about that? How pathetic is she? It had just never seemed right, but now…now she was more than ready for him to take what she has held onto for this long.
