~Elli~
I feel so safe.
I feel so protected.
So surrounded.
So…happy.
I didn’t know I could experience a feeling like this again, but here I am…in Raid’s arms and in this moment I know there is no better place to be.
I was so very nervous when I saw his plane land. I thought I was going to break my hands, I was wringing them so hard.
Then it intensified to a full on body sweat, goose bumps and everything when his platoon came down the tarmac.
It brought back a rush of memories of waiting for Garrett to come home.
But to be honest, I know this is different, it doesn’t feel familiar past the fact I’ve done this same song and dance before.
This time I’m not waiting for my husband to come home.
This time I’m waiting for someone I’ve never met. I’m waiting for… him.
I was so busy overthinking everything that I didn’t see him walking toward me until he was just…right there.
I looked up and there he was.
Like a dark angel materializing right in front of me.
I caught his eyes and saw nothing but blue fire behind them, a heat that drew me toward him like a magnetic field.
A moth drawn to the flame.
When he took a step toward me, I couldn’t take being patient. Like I had done it every day before, I ran straight to him, no inhibition, and no fear.
Just him.
I slammed into his body knocking him back slightly, but he recovered just as fast and then was crushing me against his hard body.
A bliss so intense engulfed me and I thought I might drown in happiness until he whispered “Elli” ever so softly in his deep bourbon voice. I thought I was drowning in bliss before…this was a full on tsunami of emotion.
So I did what every rational sane woman would do in the arms of a man she has only just met…start crying.
Thank the Lord I put on the waterproof this morning because at the point I couldn’t stop. He loosened his grip and looked down at me, concern shining deep from behind those blue eyes.
Concern for me.
He cupped my face in his big hands and wiped away my tears, being so very delicate with me.
“Don’t cry, beautiful.”
His smile, his eyes, so beautiful…swoon.
I can’t do anything but whisper his name and bury my face back in his chest.
My new favorite place.
I feel his lips on my hair and all I can think is how very much I want to feel those lips. It’s almost overwhelming how badly I want to know what he tastes like.
I hear a cough behind us and step back, but I don’t get very far because already, Raiden is pulling me into his side.
A man I’m guessing has to be Weston is standing there close to us.
He’s built like Raid, covered in thick muscles and tanned tattooed skin, so similar to the man holding me close that you could mistake them for brothers.
The greatest difference between them is where Raiden is all dark hair and blue eyes, Weston is all dark hair and grey eyes, and you can barely tell he’s older but a few grey hairs by his ears give him away.
“So this is her, huh?”
Oh, Raiden talks about me?
“I’m your boy here’s best friend, Weston.”
Knew it.
I know I surprise both of them when I step over to Weston and embrace him in a hug, thanking him for his service. What I wanted to say was thank you for keeping my guy safe, but beyond that I wanted him to know just how appreciated his sacrifices are to a civilian.
He pats my back awkwardly and I step back, closer to the arms I’m already missing. Weston says he’s going to go home to his bachelor pad, which makes me laugh along with my guy, leaving me along with Raiden once more.
I still can’t wrap my head or my heart around the fact Raiden is actually here, standing in front of me.
I don’t feel awkward, I feel like this is someone I know, someone I’ve spent time with, know intimate things about, and someone I’ve loved.
It’s relaxing and overwhelming both at once.
All I want to do is stand here in his arms, but I know we should get out of here.
I ask him what he wants to do now that he’s home, and he replies, “I could really go for some In-N-Out, a burger sounds like heaven.”
Who am I to deny this soldier a burger?
He’s staring at me.
Because I feel so comfortable around him, I didn’t really stop to rein in my devouring of this burger. I must look like some sort of uncivilized cave person.
I set the double-double down in the basket and wipe my face with my napkin.
“What are you staring at?” I ask, my voice quiet.
He laughs. A sound that reverberates straight into my chest, so deep and strong.
“I’m staring at you, babe.”
I narrow my eyes, feeling slightly embarrassed yet still playful.
“But why?”
He smirks.
Ugh.
Why does he have to do that? It’s completely unfair how sexy it is.
“Two reasons.” He’s still smirking, holding up two fingers.
“One, it’s sexy how much you’re enjoying that burger. Don’t ask me why, it just is. Two, you’re gorgeous.”
“Oh.”
He laughs. “Oh,” copying me.
I can tell I’m blushing, my cheeks heating up.
He winks at me and goes back to finishing his own double-double.
Now it’s my turn to stare. I take full advantage of his concentration on eating and absolutely devour his looks.
So handsome.
So rugged.
His hair is longer than I’ve seen it on the webcam and I like it. It looks soft like if I ran my fingers through it, I would be running them through silk.
His eyes are still trained down at his food so I can marvel at how long his eyelashes are. You wouldn’t think long eyelashes on a guy is sexy, but on Raiden, it’s beyond gorgeous. It makes his blue eyes pop even more than they already do.
Lost in thoughts of how unbelievably handsome he is, I don’t notice him look up and catch me staring at him. He raises an eyebrow and I quickly move my eyes away, trying to act nonchalant but knowing I’ve been caught red handed.
“Hey, wanna get out of here?” His voice is so deep and smooth pulling my eyes back to his.
I let out an excited breath.
“Yeah, what do you have in mind?”
He reaches up and scratches his jaw, the stubble making a rough sound.
“Let me drive? I want to take you somewhere.”
I reach into my purse and hand over my keys without giving it a second thought.
No one drives my car but me. I don’t even like taking it to the dealership. But something about Raiden makes me want to trust him…with everything.
My hands almost moved of their own accord when he asked. He brushes his fingers against my palm ever so slightly, sparks of electricity shooting up my arm.
Our eyes lock, crackling with energy of their own, our breaths coming out in short erratic puffs.
I don’t stop feeling the electric current pulsing through my body when we pull away from In-N-Out. It just simmers low, creating a wanton feeling in me, for more.
More electricity.
More small touches.
More.
I play DJ and plug my phone into the stereo.
Putting it on shuffle I let fate decide what the tune will be, when “Something in The Way You Move” by Ellie Goulding starts up, I mentally high five her, go Ellie.
The beat pulses through me, making me want to jam out, so I do.
I move my shoulders and head to the beat, feeling light and free.
Not a care in the world, the first time in what feels like forever.
She sings about strange feelings and it sure does resonate with me.
My cheeks heat up, knowing Raiden heard the words the same way I just did.
She mentions falling in love and oh does that do something for me, with Raiden being so close.
My heart starts beating faster, so I just cover it up by continuing to dance and sing along with her.
In my peripheral, I can see him smirking, amused by the show I’m putting on for him.
I love seeing that smirk.