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“Trying to let you sleep?”
“By face-slamming me in the nose?”
“By giving you a ‘goodbye’ kiss before I left the house,” he muttered, holding the bridge of his nose and wiggling it. “My Uber is outside and…”
“I thought I was taking you,” Madison yelped, throwing back the covers and hopping out of bed – before looking down to make sure she was dressed. It had been an awfully nice dream, and she noticed his smile.
“You’llknowif I ever take off your clothing,” he said huskily. “I can promise you that – and you willnotbe asleep.”
Her eyes nearly popped out of her skull as every thought fizzled out of her head like a soda going flat in that split second.
“Excuse me?”
“I think we both know what I just said… and I’ve got to go.”
“But Eric…”
“Madison, shhh. Max is asleep and you probably can get another two hours of sleep before having to wake up. It’s okay. I really don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive,” he smiled hesitantly as he opened the front door, waiting. “Think I can press my luck again without another head-butt?”
“Did you kiss me while I was asleep?”
“Were you dreaming of me kissing you?” he countered knowingly.
She stood there, refusing to answer or meet his eyes… only to feel his hand cup her cheek as he ducked slightly to move into her view.
“I couldn’t help myself,” he confessed softly. “I wanted something to remember you by.”
She stared at him, feeling her throat thicken, as his words hung in the air between them… and she stepped forward into his arms at the same time he was reaching for her.
Their lips met easily as if they had done this a thousand times, holding her close, kissing her tenderly, before releasing her and pressing his forehead to hers.
“Be strong,” he breathed. “Call the ombudsman in Killeen and ask for help with family law; they can direct you, or I can look it up when I get back to Afghanistan. Don’t settle or let him push you around. This is for Max – and your lives.”
“I promise,” she said in a hushed voice, feeling a clench of fear at the sound of the car horn honking from the street. Trigger barked loudly, jumping around in excitement as if the dog knew that they were about to travel.
That feeling of fear was threatening to swallow her whole as she realized the one person on her side was about to leave for an unknown length of time. She would have email, brief phone calls… and that was it.
“Don’t forget to write me,” he said hoarsely – and leaned forward to quickly kiss her again. “Sorry,” he whispered in a rushed voice, apologizing for the stolen kiss.
She tugged him down again, quickly kissing him and whispering ‘sorry’before releasing him as the car honked again. Meeting his eyes, she saw his soft smile as he swallowed.
“I’ll write when I get back to base.”
“I’ll be waiting, and promise to reply faster now that I’ve met you.”
Eric laughed openly and gave her a true smile as he backed away, raising a hand, waving. “Best night of my life and nothing happened.”
“That’s what made it special,” Madison hollered back, laughing at this sudden streak of playfulness that had been hidden in him.
“That means it will last, right?”
“At least one year…”
“I’ll take it, wife!” he hollered, waving once more, before disappearing into the car that drove off moments later.
