AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s a moment of pure bliss, a moment I’ll treasure forever—long after she leaves when her contract is up.
We remain lost in our dance, our hearts beating as one. The sound of our breathing, the rustling of the grass, and the beautiful melody of the music fill this magical place. It’s a moment of pure love and beauty, a moment that will stay with me forever.
As the music fades, she nuzzles my neck with her lips, then whispers, “If things were different, I would ask you to hold me in front of you and kiss the daylights out of me. But things aren’t different. We’re going to break our promise to each other if we don’t leave soon, Chance.”
She’s right. There’s more than a year left on her contract. When our hormones weren’t blazing through our bodies, we made a pact. I bend to grab the laptop,Bolerois on repeat with only that one snare drum beginning the piece again.
Wheeling on my hind legs, I snap the computer shut and take her back to her dorm.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jo
Part of me thinks I’m being ridiculous and need to chill out. The other part of me is so excited I’m about to jump out of my skin.
Although we’ve hung out practically all day every day since we got here, there’s something different about today. Because Chance was practically tongue-tied when he asked me if I wanted to go to the Wild About Ice Cream Shoppe with him, I think this may be an actual date.
I don’t bother to look in the full-length mirror in my room. We’re only allowed to wear khakis and Hawaiian shirts. After a month on base, I don’t need to gaze at my reflection to know just how baggy these are on me. Frankly, I think that’s why the powers that be mandated them as the only things we can wear—to reduce fraternization between males and females. I don’t know what they were thinking. There are several couples already living together in spite of the heinous clothing mandates.
My hair has grown back longer than you’d think since I shaved it eight months ago. It scrapes my collar. I’ve spent more time and effort on it than I have since junior high, even though it still looks as though all I did was finger-comb it. After one last glance at the mirror over the sink, I head out.
Less than a few hundred steps later, I’ve traveled through the women’s dorm hallway, through the women’s lounge, and see Chance in the coed lounge. He has that eager, expectant, slightly anxious look you’d expect on a young man when he knocks on a girl’s front door to pick her up for prom.
Just like a high school girl, my heart goes loop-de-loop and my insides feel all squishy. Maybe it’s a good thing I missed all this in high school. For my prom, my high school date and I skedaddled to the hotel room a bunch of us reserved for the after-party and had our private horizontal dance before everyone showed up.
This is so much nicer.
Although it makes perfect sense why Chance was exempted from the khaki pants mandate, I’ve always wondered why he’s gotten away with going shirtless. I’m not complaining.
Today, he’s wearing a new kilt. Although it’s lavender, there’s absolutely nothing feminine about the way it hugs Chance’s masculine frame. Olivia said lavender would be a thing of beauty on his dapple-gray coat. She was right.
“You look beautiful,” he says.
He’s so cute, totally acting the part of a young man on his first date. I guess that makes sense. Itishis first date.
I was so busy looking at how handsome he is, I failed to notice the bouquet of wildflowers he’s clutching in his huge hand. If I don’t rescue them immediately, he’s going to choke the poor things.
“I’ll put these in water.”
When I turn toward the door to the kitchen for a vase, he reaches to grab my wrist.
“There’s plenty more where those came from. I’ll pick more for you later. Can we… can we go on our… date?”
“Absolutely.”
I’m a little reluctant to toss them in the wastebasket. They’re the first flowers I’ve ever received from a guy. Chance has gotten pretty good at reading me because he says, “Ipromise. I’ll pick you more.”
Gripping his hand, I pull him down so I can reach his face to kiss his cheek. “I’d like that, Chance. This was sweet.”
We make our way outside and head toward all the shops on Main Street. They’re opening one by one. Although they only serve those of us who live on the property, it’s giving the males time to learn basic trades and social skills. Even in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen them not only improve, but feel more comfortable in their own skins. It’s been a privilege to watch.
I travel the raised wooden sidewalk, holding hands with Chance, who walks in the street. This somewhat evens the difference in our height. It’s nice not to have to strain to look at him for once.
We’ve had some amazing talks since we agreed to take things slowly. That magical night a few weeks ago when we danced in the moonlight set us back a bit. I think we’ve both been swimming in an even more potent hormonal stew than we had been.
Sometimes I hear either Noble or Ty roaring from their Quonset huts, obviously enjoying the pleasures of the flesh. Those two couples wasted no time getting it on, and from the sounds of things, they don’t miss one night of sharing pleasure. I’ll admit, I get jealous.
When I give it more thought, I feel slightly smug about how Chance and I are taking it slow. Maybe if I’d been a normal teenager, if I’d gone on dates and had actually gone to prom instead of partaking in the after-party, this would be too slow and boring for me. Instead, it’s giving me the opportunity to experience the adolescence I was too bitter and angry to enjoy.
