Touching Scars(28)

Nodding his head, he sat back down and turned towards Mel, continuing their discussion as though I hadn’t interrupted them. I made my way up the narrow stairs to the door at the top. It was unlocked, which made me grit my teeth. It looked like I would be installing a lock tomorrow morning. Anybody could come right in and hide and wait for her. Just the thought made my stomach turn.

When I got inside, I took a quick look around and noticed her place was just as small as mine, maybe even smaller. Tucked in the corner was a twin bed that had a white and yellow quilt covering it. I carefully pulled the blanket back, trying not to jostle her too much. When it was pulled down far enough, I put her down, gently resting her head on her pillow. Standing back to look at her, I questioned whether or not I should strip any of her clothes off. Kat would probably want to kick my ass. Deciding that it didn’t matter either way to me, I went ahead and tugged her shoes off. Moving up to her jeans, I unbuttoned them, sliding them down her smooth thin legs. That’s as far as I was willing to go. I wouldn’t take advantage of the situation after she showed me some of her vulnerability. I was a prick, but I didn’t get my rocks off on girls that were passed out and unaware that I was standing over them.

Squatting down by the head of the bed, I used my index finger to push back a few stray hairs resting on her cheek. Her skin was so soft. Looking at her sleeping peacefully, I made a promise to myself right then and there. I would do whatever I had to protect her. It wasn’t lost on me that I said the same words six years ago, but this time I knew I meant them. I would always be here for her. I leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her temple before I stood back up and went to lie down on the couch.





“MMM… JUST LIKE THAT,” I whispered in Holt’s ear.

The kid was sound asleep in his rack and grinding his hips into the hard cot. Corey and Rooster were standing off to the side, chuckling and shaking their heads. Holt wasn’t supposed to be sleeping, but he must have decided a mid-day nap was a good idea. Too bad for him — you fall asleep when you shouldn’t, you pay the price. The other two and I had walked in here after lunch and found the kid passed out, clearly having a wet dream. I hit Rooster on the shoulder and tipped my head towards Holt, silently telling him to check this out. I walked over to the kid and squatted down. Leaning in, I had started talking dirty to him.

Holt moaned and ground his hips even harder into his bed. A few minutes had passed, then he suddenly held his breath and shook. Before his body relaxed after getting off, he awoke and shot up, pushing his body up with both arms. He looked down at his bed, not realizing he wasn’t alone.

“Damn it,” he griped about the mess on his front.

I let out a small cough, effectively getting his attention. His eyes shot to mine, and I gave him a devilish smile. “Was it good for you? Cause it kinda sucked for me, man. I didn’t even get mine.”

Corey and Rooster stood in the corner practically crying from laughing so hard. Corey was wiping his eyes while Rooster was bent at the waist. Holt’s face turned beet red with embarrassment. His expression went from embarrassed to angry. Standing up, he walked past me, nudging my shoulder with his own.

“Not one word about this, fucker,” he said.

I held up two fingers. “Scout’s honor, but I suggest you take your snooze on someone else’s time. Uncle Sam would be pissed to know you’re sleeping on his watch.”

Holt went and grabbed a clean pair of fatigues. “Change your panties and head outside. We have drills in twenty,” I told him as I walked out with the other two, who were still unable to suppress their laughter.

Twenty minutes later we met on our makeshift shooting range to do target practice. We practiced with heavy artillery weapons and grenades to make sure that when real life situations happened, we’d be prepared to defend ourselves. I was a sharpshooter, and rarely missed. So I stood off to the side, watching my boys use M-16s to take down their targets. We had been at it for about an hour when it was time for us to load up and report for our next patrol in the city.

Climbing into the MRAP I secured my harness, ready to roll. These bad boys were a mix between a tank and a Hummer in looks but made of steel. However, out in those cities and being wide open to attacks, nothing could really keep you safe.

We were making our first round when we passed by the same shop where we’d seen the man abusing the woman. Looking at the storefront, I saw her. She was standing outside the door with her head down, waiting for whoever was inside to finish. Probably the same bastard that had been pushing her around.

“That the same broad?” Cooper asked before we went around the corner.