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"Breakfast?" she exclaimed gleefully, her eyes twinkling with delight. "You are simply amazing."
"Anything for you. I went and got your dress for you, too. It’s pressed and ready.”
She looked up at the dress and smiled. “You did that?” she asked. “Jeremy Matos knows how to iron a dress?”
“Jeremy Matos knows how to do a lot of things,” I smirked.
“Don’t I know it?” she teased.
As we sat together, enjoying the moment, any doubts and uncertainties that had clouded my mind the night before began to feel like distant memories. With Jill awake and smiling by my side, I knew our connection was genuine, worth cherishing, and deserving of nurturing and protection as we moved into a future together. Breakfast was getting cold, so I unveiled what was under the silver lids, and Jill clapped her hands together and squealed with excitement. “Mmmm. I love pancakes!” she said. My chest swelled with pride in choosing to take a chance on ordering for her.
Amid our breakfast rendezvous, though, I couldn’t help but notice Jill's lingering gaze on me. Her eyes traced the curves of my exposed chest and arms with an intensity that did not seem entirely affectionate. She was studying me and my skin.
I became oddly aware of my scars, and the warm feelings of the morning gave way to feelings of self-consciousness that I wasn’t anticipating. Prepared for her inevitable questions, I waited for her to stop staring and finally speak up.
"What is the story behind these scars?" she finally asked. Her question was earnest, and her voice tinged with genuine curiosity, yet I couldn’t help but wonder if she was turned off by seeing them now that they were on full display in the morning light. The lights of the room had been dimmed the night before. This was probably her first good look at them, and I was sure she was shocked by how horrible they looked.
I thought about my time in the Air Force and took a deep breath.
“Jill,” I began, my voice slightly shaky but determined simultaneously, “That’s something I haven’t really shared with anyone, but I’ll tell you if you want to know. It happened during my time in the Air Force. I was flying a helicopter on a mission when we started taking enemy fire. I was able to navigate away from most of it, but just at the tail end of the escape, a bullet hit the propeller and sent us crashing.”
I paused momentarily as vivid memories flew right back into my head. The sound of impact and the desperation in the voices of my fellow airmen was etched into my brain like it had just happened yesterday.
I closed my eyes and shook my head, rattling away the flashback.
“Anyway,” I said with a slightly trembling voice. “I survived, obviously. Others weren’t as lucky. I did have injuries, though. I was burned badly and cracked several ribs. I fractured my hip. I was hospitalized for months, then there was some extensive rehab.”
As I explained all of it, Jill’s eyes glowed with empathy. She put her hand on top of mine and pulled it into her lap, holding it in both hands to comfort me.
“All of this changed who I am. It made me realize how fragile life is… but also how important it is to take every moment you can get. And not only that, but it boosted my determination to succeed.”
She gave me a reassuring squeeze before saying anything else.
“You’re really strong, Baby,” she said.
As our eyes met again, an undeniable warmth and affection flowed between us. Unable to resist the pull, I gently leaned in closer and bridged the distance between us as our lips met in a gentle and tender kiss. It was a silent recognition of the passion that simmered and thrived within us for one another and an excitement for the future we were hoping to build together.
Yet, as soon as the flames of desire were ignited, a sense of responsibility and restraint crept into my consciousness. I pulled back regrettably from her embrace, looking into her eyes apologetically as we both acknowledged that we could not allow our desires to consume us this morning. Not when there was an imminent conference demanding our attention.
"As much as I want it, we just don’t have enough time this morning. The conference is calling, and we can’t be late."
Jill nodded in understanding, though it was clear she was as eager to get it over and back in bed as I was. Still, we both knew that we had come there with responsibilities at hand, and we had to prioritize them over our desires.
We put the lids back on the breakfast trays, and I carried them to the door, setting them outside in the hallway for hotel staff to pick up. When I turned back around, Jill had already made her way to the shower. I took my suit off the hanger and started to get dressed for the day. I was tying my tie in the mirror when Jill stepped out.
“I’m really fast,” she promised. “It will only take me a few more minutes.”
I smiled and nodded at her, then picked up my briefcase and went to a nearby chair where I sat down and started going through notes for the presentation, but I was still distracted by her beauty.
I couldn't help but entertain thoughts of getting her back here to make love to her once again. The desire for her burned within me, even knowing it wasn’t the best time to get lost in these thoughts.
“All ready,” she finally said, turning around from the mirror to face me. She looked amazing in a fitted royal green dress that barely touched below her knees, and her hair and makeup were done flawlessly. Her dainty feet slipped into some matching green stilettos. She appeared as if she had stepped out of a magazine cover.
“You look great,” I said. “All eyes will be on you today for sure.”
She blushed, then reached for my hand, taking it in hers as we walked out of the hotel room, poised to tackle the conference together.
The car ride to the conference center was short but allowed just enough time to run down the plans for the presentation. When we arrived at the center, we were taken to the room where we would present, and we began setting up the presentation together.
