* * *

I didn’t get to talk to her old man that night, but sought him out first thing the very next day. I’d spoken to him numerous times in the last year, more to learn more about her than anything else. Though I couched my curiosity in the broadest terms so as not to give anything away.

He had no idea that I wanted to sully his daughter. That if I had my way she’d be under me all day every day until her belly was swollen with child, my child. I’d never once let on to the need I had in me for her.

I found him in the garden pruning the rosebushes. I never understood how the world worked when it came to this class shit. Here’s a man who works as hard as any I’ve seen. He’d served in the navy, a bunch of pansy ass squids I know, but at least he’d manned up when his country needed him.

And yet, there’s a faction of our society who looks at this man, a man who’d come back from hell and done everything in his power to care for his family, as less than they are.

“Morning Thomas.”

“Mr. Ethan.”

“I’ve asked you not to call me that.”

“Yes I know, but not only are you my boss, but you outrank me as well, so…” There was no point in arguing because he was just as stiff necked as his daughter.

I couldn’t find the words to start the conversation without giving myself away. I’d walked the floor all night with my gut in knots. The only answer here was to let her go, but it was the only thing I couldn’t yet bring myself to live with.

“Ah, yeah, so I ran into Lucia yesterday. Has she said anything to you about joining up?” He didn’t even falter in his clipping, just carried on as if I hadn’t just told him his only daughter was about to put her life in danger.

Or maybe he doesn’t see it like that. Maybe he’d be proud to see her follow in his footsteps. In which case I might’ve just lost my only ally in keeping her little ass home, safe.

“She mentioned it. Why?” Isn’t that the leading question? How should I answer?

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” And what the fuck does it have to do with you? I hope he doesn’t ask me that because I don’t have an answer I can give him.

I’m almost engaged to someone else and the whole damn town knows it. If she were mine, scratch that, because no matter what, she is mine. So, if she were my daughter, I wouldn’t want the likes of me sniffing around her either.

“Why not? You served, we both did. She’s a bright girl, strong. I think it would be good for her, give her some direction. She’s not like other girls, the navy might be the perfect thing for her.” Like hell.

“With things the way they are I don’t…” The world was more unsettled now than it had been since the end of the Second World War. Not many know that, why would they? But some of us who’ve been tasked with the security of the nation can see the writing on the wall.

“If it comes to that then we’ll need all the hands we can get. And we both know that if she’s made up her mind to do it there will be no stopping her. Besides, what else is she going to do? Stay around here and marry one of those yodels down at the Community College? Nah, my girl was made for greater things. I know her Mr. Ethan, whatever she sets her mind to she’ll do.”

I can see there will be no help from this quarter, so I’ll do the only thing I had left to me. I’ll just bully her until she gives in as I usually do. Only she doesn’t take too well to threats and every time I’ve tried in the past she’d gone and done the opposite of what I’d ordered her to any damn way.

I walked away without saying goodbye. I need another showdown with her like I need a hole in my head, but I have to at least try to talk her out of it. I knew she wouldn’t be in her house. It was one of her days off from class and she likes to spend her time down by the four acre lake that ran along the back of the property.

I took my time getting there, trying to put together the right words, but at my first sight of her it all went right out of my head. She looked so sad sitting there, her head on her bent knees as she trailed her fingers through the water.

I stood in the shadow of the trees for the longest time just watching her, taking her in. My sad little girl. She’s gonna break my heart. Before this is all said and done, I know she’s going to tear it out of my chest and crush it under her feet.

Heaven forbid I should be the one to do it to her. I’d cut off my arm first before I do that to her. Would you asshole? What do you think you’re doing now? Why do you think she’s sitting over there looking so sad?

Usually on a bright sunny day like today she’d be out on one of the old fishing boats I leave tied up by the dock down here. Or trying to catch the peacocks or the swans which I’m forever telling her are going to take one of her eyes out before long.

I must’ve rustled the leaves of the low hanging tree or stepped on the brush beneath my feet. Something made her turn and look in my direction. “Don’t you dare move Lucia.” She was getting ready to bolt, something she’d never done before and I have to say I didn’t like the way it made me feel one bit.

I walked over and stood over her wanting so badly to reach out and take. “Look at me Lucia.” She ignored me, even turned her head away. For some reason her defiance pissed me off. What the hell did she want from me? “What the hell do you want from me?” I pulled her up by her arm.

She tried to wrestle her arm away from me but I held firm. “Stop it you little hellcat, before you hurt yourself.” This was the second day in a row that I’d allowed myself to touch her. Always in the past I’d been sure to keep my distance. Now I wondered how I’d ever forget the feel of her under my hand.

I looked down at her realizing just how tiny and delicate she was compared to me. Her head barely reached my chin and though her arms were strong and slightly muscled, she was still so frail next to my behemoth height. I must have a good seventy pounds on her at least. And therein laid one of my biggest problems of all.

If I took her, I could hurt her. I’ve always been aware of my own strength, especially in bed, and anything to do with the weaker sex. For fuck sake I’d slept with Helen once and never went back because she’d been in too much pain after. Well that and this one coming into my life. Helen is taller and she’s a good fifteen pounds heavier than she is.

Not that I was in such a big hurry to go there again. I hadn’t enjoyed that shit even a little bit. And again I’m being an asshole. Helen’s not a bad woman, and none of this is her fault. She just happens to have the misfortune to be in love with someone who could never return her feelings.

I know that as sure as I know my own name. If I go through with this, no matter what, I will never feel for her what I feel for Lucia. “Look at me sweetheart.” Another slip of the tongue, but she didn’t seem to be paying attention.

“I said look at me.” I lifted her chin with my fingertip but she kept her eyes averted.

“What do you want Ethan? You’ve already made your choice. I’m going down to the office tomorrow and sign up. I’ll be out of your hair soon enough and you can marry that hag and you can both get fu…”

My mouth came down hard, covering hers, sinking my tongue inside, before I had the chance to think it through. She almost blew my fucking head off. Her taste was unlike anything I’d ever known.

Sweet summer peaches and some unknown spice that I couldn’t name. She’d got into her mom’s peach cobbler I thought, or maybe it was her natural taste. Whatever it was, the shit was addicting. I wanted to stay there like that, with her held in my arms, close to my heart, forever.

I ate at her lips, pressing the growing length of my cock hard against her middle until we both needed air, and even then I didn’t let her go. I couldn’t bring myself to. I’d walk barefoot across hot coals if I had to keep her. Of all the trials I’d faced and passed before, nothing felt like this. I had a feeling it would be the most important decision of my life. Maybe that’s why it was the hardest.

“You’re not leaving me.” I held her so tight my arms began to ache but I couldn’t let go.

“I can’t stay here. I can’t watch you marry someone else please don’t ask me to.” Because she would, I know she would stay if I asked her to, and what the hell would that make me? What a fucking mess.

She rubbed her cheek lovingly against my chest right over my heart, and it melted. “Just one more.” Her voice was soft and filled with sadness as she lifted her lips up to mine and I lowered my head to take them.

She went soft and pliant under my embrace, making it harder still to release my hold. I cupped her ass and lifting her to her toes, ground my cock into her pussy. I felt pre-cum bead at my cock tip and groaned into her mouth with such need it’s a wonder my heart didn’t give out.

“Why do you taste so good baby?” I knew her lips would be raw and swollen when I let go, that’s how hard I kissed her. She didn’t complain, didn’t pull away, but pushed herself harder against me, doing some of her own moaning.

Her tongue teased mine shyly and it was obvious that she hadn’t done this before. The realization only made me want her more. The thought of someone else having her made me see red and anger mixed with the confusion in my gut.

I released one half of her ass and grabbed the back of her head. “You can’t leave me, I wont let you.” Even as I said the words I knew they were empty. She was right; she couldn’t stay here and watch me marry someone else. And my honor wouldn’t let me break an unspoken promise.

I felt real anger at my mother for the first time during this whole mess. This was her doing. She’d decided my future before I had a choice, before I was given the chance to choose for myself. And now I’m in danger of losing the best thing that’s ever happened to me and ever will.

“I have to.” So sad, so broken.

“NO.” I yelled the word into her mouth as I gripped her hair harder in my hands. “I’ll kill you first.” I’d finally popped my fucking leash. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I will never let you go. Not in this life or the next.”