Spending seven days in the desert sun, with this bunch of lunatics, eating nothing but protein bars and MRE’s, is not my idea of fun. The nights are ridiculously cold, and the days are so hot it feels like your insides are being boiled. Even with tarps set up and using rock formations for cover, it’s exceedingly difficult to get comfortable.

When the helo finally comes to pick us up, we’re all dead tired, stink of old sweat and unwashed nut sacs, and can’t wait for whatever is being served at the chow tent. Our mission was a success, we were able to capture audio recordings and pictures of the men we believe to be in charge and put together a schedule of deliveries and shift changes. The CO will be incredibly happy with the information we have.

While the adrenalin rush of the last week comes down, most of the men crash hard. It takes a lot out of you to be on guard constantly for days on end. One man always on lookout duty, twenty-four hours a day; ready for a firefight with no warning. I can never get my mind to quiet down enough to sleep, I want to know if there’s an email from Becca waiting for me. I’ve thought about nothing but her and Olivia this entire week.

It doesn’t take long for the helo to land back at base, waking the boys up is like trying to wake kids up for the first day of school. The motor shuts off, the blades slow, and it’s immediately quieter. The crew goes about their post-flight checks while I shake these guys awake. “Come on guys, Cowboy, Hard-On, Brass, Newb. It’s time to get your asses up. Grab your shit, we’re back at camp.” No one moves. I tried to be nice about it, but now they asked for it. Grabbing my last canteen, I unscrew the cap and pour it on them.

“What the fuck, LT?” Hard-On yells, covering his face.

“We’re back at base, get your shit.” The boys start mumbling and cursing my name under their breath, but they’re moving. Right now, that’s all I care about.

Dropping my pack on my rack, I grab my shower kit, strip off my disgusting clothes, wrap a towel around my waist, and head to take a quick shower. Who am I kidding, showers are always quick around here. When you share the water with three other dudes with only half walls separating us, no one sticks around long.

Even with no water heater, the water isn’t cold, the desert heat takes care of that for us. The clean water washing a weeks’ worth of sweat, grime, and sand off my skin is invigorating. For a few minutes, I can close my eyes and pretend that I am somewhere else that doesn’t involve IEDs, missions, and smelling my buddies’ nuts.

Once I’m scrubbed clean, I head back to my tent to get dressed and check my email. I know she’s read my email by now, but I can’t help but worry about her response. I hope she didn’t worry too much about me being out on a mission. While the possibility of us getting into dangerous shit is high, we’re well trained to de-escalate situations and get everyone out alive.

As I head back toward the bunkhouse, my mind begins to wander. I want to know more about these two ladies that have suddenly taken over all my thoughts. I want to know what Becca looks like in a bikini, sunning herself on a towel at the beach. I want to play with Olivia in the waves while Becca gets a chance to relax. I want to teach Olivia how to throw a football, color pictures with her, read her bedtime stories. I want Becca to see me and feel the weight of the world lift from her shoulders because she knows I’ve got her.

I shouldn’t be thinking this way about her, she just wants a friend. Someone to listen to her and understand how she is feeling. When I enter the tent, the boys are all passed out, haphazardly on their racks. Most didn’t even take off their boots first. Shaking my head, I put on a T-shirt and boxers. I honestly should get some sleep, but before I can lay down, I notice a huge package sitting on my bed. I know exactly where that came from, Becca and Olivia always know how to make my day a little brighter. Even though neither of them knows it yet, they have come to mean so much to me.

Gently pulling the box open, I reach in and begin pulling out a large stack of pictures. Olivia fulfilled her promise of coloring me some more pictures, but she also threw some pictures in for the rest of the team as well. She didn’t want them to feel left out for not getting pictures, the size of that little girl’s heart is amazing.

Placing those to the side, I find what I have been waiting for — a picture of my girls. I take a moment and stare at the picture in my hand, I feel as if I know them. Olivia with a princess crown in her soft blonde curls and big blue eyes that she must have gotten from her father. Becca with her dazzling smile, black hair, and happiness in her bright green eyes. My heart beats faster as I take in the beauty of the picture. I can picture myself with them, wrapping them both in my arms, kissing Olivia’s hair, kissing Becca’s lips.

I can’t help but wonder what her lips and skin taste like. What’s her favorite scent to wear? Will she whimper if I kiss that magic spot behind her ear? Will she moan and gasp in my ear when I’m inside of her or will she scream out her pleasure? A shiver runs through me just imagining her beneath me, and I shake my head to get rid of the image.

I continue to dig through the box to pull out an amazing sketch of the team. Becca, my beautiful girl, her talent is beyond comprehension. When the guys wake up, I will have to show them the sketch. I'll make sure that it hangs proudly in the bunkhouse, something for us all to cherish forever. I grab all of the artwork and head over to my bunk, I need to find someplace to hang these, I did promise Olivia after all.

My search is interrupted by some mumbling from behind me, I turn around to find Brass and Hard-On drooling like a pack of wolves trying to get into my container of sweets. They missed out last time because I ate all the snickerdoodles before they even knew I had them. My girl is a damn good baker.

Brass tries to whisper, “If there are cookies or something good in there, I better get some in payment for waking you up.”

“Every man for himself,” Hard-on mumbles

“I don’t know what you fuckers think you are doing but get off my shit!” I below, waking up the whole team. Hard-On and Brass drop the box.

“Come on! There is more than enough in there to share. Just one! I’m sure if you asked your girl, she would tell you to share as well,” Hard-on whines like a two-year-old.

I stopped trying to convince the guys there was nothing going on between Becca and I. I won’t go as far to say we are together, but she does mean something to me. “Fuck you, ass! Let me at least finish going through the stuff I got and see what else is in here. If there are more snickerdoodles in there, you aren’t getting anything,” I grumble as I head back over to my desk, grab my package from them, and take a seat.

I reach back into the box, and I find even more photographs. This time, it seems they are of Olivia’s room. Princess pillows and Batman blankets on her bed covered by unicorn and superhero stuffies. The next picture is nothing but Disney Princesses, Barbies, and Batman action figures. I’m pretty sure there are no less than fifty of them littering the floor and shelves; someone didn’t clean their room before taking pictures. I’m sure Becca was not happy about that fact, but I’m just happy they both want to share their lives with me. Even if it’s only through photos.

The next photo looks like a reading nook, with shelves covered in books, coloring books, and pictures on her wall. Becca has done an awesome job. All the decorating is just like I imagined Olivia to be like. An eclectic mix of pink, glitter, and unicorns with some superheroes and comic books thrown in for good measure.

“Are you just going to make goo-goo eyes at the photos all day or are you going to get down to the good stuff?” Hard-On says over my shoulder, causing me to jump slightly in my seat.

“Chill, man,” I grumble as I pull out a tub of brownies. Cracking the lid open, the bunk room fills with the aroma of chocolate.

“I smell chocolate! That means no snickerdoodles, give me some man!” Brass dives for the container. I pull it out of his reach, grabbing a brownie out and shoving it into my mouth.

“God damn, these are good. If you are going to act like an ass, I’m not giving you shit,” I grumble with my mouth full.

“Who is acting like an ass this time?” Cowboy says as he snatches the container from my arms, grabbing a few for himself before handing it to Hard-on as well.

“Who the fuck said you can have any?” I ask before opening the container for Brass to grab a few. Cowboy has a shit-eating grin on his face. Sometimes I hate that they are all so close to me; I hate sharing Becca’s brownies, damn I hate sharing period. The other girls need to send something other than pictures of their kids and tits to their men, I’m over sharing.

“Well, that’s all you get. These are getting locked in my footlocker.” I bend over, unlock it, and place the container inside while pulling out my laptop. I usually leave the key hanging in the lock, but I don’t trust any of these fuckers not to steal the rest of them, so I tuck the key in my pocket for safe keeping.

Heading back over to my desk, I notice there is a letter in the bottom. I quickly grab the unopened envelope and toss the box to the floor. Carefully peeling it open, I slip it out and see Becca’s handwriting across the page.

Just as I thought, she sent me an email as well. “Shows over, go find something constructive to do,” I grumble as I open my laptop and wait impatiently for it to boot up, then I log into my email. To my excitement, I have not one but two emails from Becca!

I set their picture as my background and set the laptop next to my bunk. I will have to respond to her second email later. I have an idea of how to thank her for such an amazing gift, but I’m going to need the rest of the guys’ help.

I try to block out the sounds that make up this country; gunfire, explosions, constant foot, and vehicle traffic. To focus on anything besides how pathetic I seem right now, staring at a picture as if my life depends on it. Becca and Olivia are starting to mean everything to me, a thought that should terrify me, but instead fills me with hope. Hope that there is something out there for me beyond the military, a family of my own.

Looking back at my computer, I notice that it’s close to midnight. This base never sleeps, not really, so the idea of time eludes me most days. I hear the guys quietly breathing as they sleep soundly. More than likely dreaming of the women in their lives, the people they have to go home to.

I close my eyes and picture Becca, her image now burned into my memory. She’s absolutely beautiful, smooth, creamy skin that my fingers itch to explore. Dark curly hair that will tangle around my fingers while I kiss her pouty lips.

Damn it. My eyes fly open as my dick becomes hard enough to pound nails with just from the thought of her. Checking to make sure the guys are all far away in dreamland, I slide my hand into my boxer briefs and squeeze my cock. Biting my fist to keep quiet, the groan that wants to be released grumbles in my chest. Closing my eyes again, I picture Becca’s beautiful face peering up at me. Her luscious curves pressed against me, my lips meeting hers.

My strokes get faster, and my grip tightens, picturing her glistening lips surrounding my cock. The hot, wet suction of her mouth pulling me deep into her throat. My hips jerk, thrusting into my fist erratically. My balls become heavy before pulling tight as my orgasm threatens to overtake me. Becca looking up at me from her knees, swirling her tongue around the head of my dick before swallowing around me pulls the cum from my balls. My hips lift off the mattress as hot cum covers my hand and stomach. “Fuck,” I grumble as I reach for a discarded sock to clean up with. Wiping up and tossing the sock back on the ground, I finally feel relaxed for the first time in a long time.

I lay back and shut my eyes. The guys did always say jerking off is the best way to get to sleep. My entire body is exhausted, sagging into my cot as I roll back onto my side. I catch a glimpse of Becca and Olivia’s smiling faces as my eyes begin to close. I should feel guilty for thinking this way about her, but I don’t. I plan to have her and Olivia around for the long haul, I just need to convince them both that I am worthy. With thoughts of my girls, I stop fighting the urge to stay awake. Joining the two of them in the only place we can be together for now - my dreams.

I wake up with a jolt. I look around the bunk room and notice it empty. Wiping the sleep out of my eyes, I grab my camera and head outside in search of everyone. I find them playing volleyball sans shirts. With a shake of my head, I grab a quick picture for Katie, Amber, and Avery. They do it more than you would think, I asked them why once and they said something about it feeling like home. All I know is that the girls love it, and if they knew I didn’t take a picture, they would have my ass.

I watch them for a few minutes, using the training they’ve all been through to make the game look more like a choreographed dance. Most of us have been together long enough now to anticipate everyone’s next move. Cowboy finally notices me standing here, camera in hand, when they all stop to take a water break.

“Hey LT, what’s up, man?” Cowboy asks when he sees me.

“Just taking some pictures for the girls. I figured since it was Newb’s first deployment and we won’t be together forever we could take some pictures.”

Hard-On and Cowboy exchange a look before crossing their arms over their chests. “Bullshit,” they say in unison.

“Fine, don’t send pictures home to the girls. I’m sure they wouldn’t want some anyway. I took pictures of you guys playing volleyball. I won’t get into trouble.” I shrug my shoulders and walk back toward the bunkhouse.

“Well, hang on a minute,” Hard-On calls out. Got him.

Setting down my camera, I reach behind my head to pull my T-shirt. When I look back at the guys, they’re all looking at me weird.

“What?”

“She’s more than just a pen pal, huh?” Hard-On asks.

“What are you talking about?”

“You come out here to suggest we take a picture, feigning to help us, then take your shirt off for said picture without us ragging on you. There’s someone you’re trying to impress.” Arms once again crossed, Cowboy and Brass chuckling because they know they got me.

“Shut up.”

Grabbing a passing soldier, we group together; some with arms crossed, some with an arm slung over a shoulder, but it’s all of us. We take some together and separate, I even take the time to play a game of volleyball. Now, these are some real pictures I can send to Becca and Olivia.