Chapter Nine

Frederick

The moment Captain Gibson heads for the shower, I grab for my phone. It’s been going off with texts and other notifications ever since I left the base. Initially, I’m afraid that it’s from one or more of my peers on base, or any of the other officers or captains I answer to. Or would have to, after they’ve realized I’ve left the safety and controlled environment of my “protective custody.”

Endless questions or scolding, however, are the least of my worries. From the moment I pick up my phone, I know it’s not my peers texting to chew my ass out. It’s Captain Stern. He doesn’t say it’s him, but I know it is. His number is the only one that’s ever listed as “unknown” on my phone, no matter what number he is or isn’t texting from.

“Wherever you are right now, Freddie, you better keep your mouth shut. Your asshole too, if you know what’s good for you” A cold sweat forms on the back of my neck, and begs me to stop looking at the texts that have come in… but I can’t stop. I’m forced to keep watching and reading as they continue.

“Don’t think I don’t know that you’re not on base Freddie. I know where you are or aren’t, no matter how clever you think you’re being. No matter how sneaky. But let me tell you this boy. If you so much as even suggest that I might be the one who did things to you — that it wasn’t your little old buddy and pal Gibson — I will make sure you suffer even worse than what you already have with me. I will make sure you remember your time with me, and this time I’m not going to go easy on you. I’m going to make you wish I’d spiked your drink before locking the doors behind us.”

I scroll down, wishing I’d just joined Gibson in the shower. At least then I wouldn’t be being harassed via text. And at the worst possible time. It’s almost as if Captain Stern is right outside the window and can see what I’m doing right now. The thought is enough to make me cuddle into the sheets.

The texts don’t stop, though. They keep coming, even from under the covers. I still read them though, even though I know they’re going to do nothing but fill me with more fear. Fear that tastes all the more bitter and acrid to me after such a good fuck. And with a man I’ve always admired. Always lusted after, however quietly.

“Your body isn’t the only thing you’ll need to worry about, Freddie. Oh no. If any of this gets out during one of your sweet little “counseling” sessions, I will make sure that your career with the Navy goes up in smoke. Is burned beyond repair and recognition. When I’m done with your service record, you won’t be able to serve in the Navy let alone set foot in your community.”

I shiver, finally deciding to turn off the phone and banish Captain Stern from my mind, no matter how hard that prospect actually feels.

Captain Gibson’s out of the shower. And by the sound of his gently padding feet on the linoleum, it’s clear he is coming my way again. Which I’m insanely glad for. Just the idea that I’m not going to be alone in bed anymore is enough to take the scare out of Captain Stern’s texts.

When Captain Gibson does come to bed and climbs in, I find reasons to get closer to him. Cuddle up to him, though not in a needy or childish way. But more in a way that I hope he can write off as being “cold” after sex, or unconscious habit. Something to save me from having to explain why I’m pressed so closely to him.

Finally, after at least a half hour of wakeful, thought-laden silence, I go to sleep. Thankfully, I don’t dream about Captain Stern or any of his hate-filled threats toward me. I’m sure that this is mostly due to the strong, hairy arms Captain Gibson has thrown around me. The equally strong and hairy legs he’s wrapped around my hips in the middle of his own dream. His own bliss.

***

The next morning, I wake up early, in chilly grey light, semi-formed and pale, somber-like sun. I slip out of bed soundly and get dressed just as stealthily, smiling as I listen to Captain Gibson snoring. Many of my peers have often said he snored like a Beluga whale with a tampon stuck up its nose, and now I believe them. It’s a horrendously loud and comical sound.

It’s funny in its own way, but it’s also useful to me. Extremely helpful because it allows me the cover I need to leave the bedroom, and then house without him waking. Without him even realizing that there’s no one sleeping next to him anymore.

Hurrying out to the car, I hate myself for leaving him like this. For sneaking out of the house without even so much as a “goodbye” after such a good time last night. But once again, Captain Stern has me rattled this morning. He’s been texting since 6:30 AM, and I’ve just now had the misfortune of reading his last hour of threats.

I need to get out of town. Go somewhere else entirely today. I climb into my car, start the engine and try my best to ignore the computer-sounding dings coming from my phone. At least I know they’re not from Captain Gibson. I did manage to sneak his phone number into mine last night when I couldn’t sleep. I don’t remember what they are exactly, but I had plans for using that number today. If I can only find a place that will give me some breathing room. Give us a “neutral” zone to be in.

Out of his driveway and back on the main road, I hurry to make a plan for myself today. Nothing comes to mind immediately. Just getting away and putting some distance between myself and Albuquerque.

But I get a solution while waiting in the drive-through of a fast food restaurant. I know. I’ll go to a coffee shop… one in Santa Fé. It’s about an hour away from Albuquerque. If I go there, hang out for a while then invite Captain Gibson to join me, maybe we can hang out some more. Without Captain Stern stalking me or waiting for me to come back to base.

So that’s what I do. I make a beeline for the freeway again, this time heading north, away from Albuquerque altogether. I even go so far as to pass the Tijeras Mountains. Then pull off to the side near some of the cabins and other dwellings up there.

But then I quickly decide where to go is even beyond that. To somewhere that doesn’t even know there’s an Air Force base right on the outskirts of Albuquerque. So I get back on the road and continue to drive.

As the open road spills out ahead of me, I finally get a breath of air. A moment of true relaxation. And in that moment, I can smile. I can relive my joy from the night before. Oh my God I think, chuckling, Captain Gibson actually fucked me! He actually let me in his house, let me kiss him, and then he fucked me! I sigh, enjoying the memory of his thickness, of his commanding but gentle aura the entire time. So sexy! Oh, God! What I wouldn’t give to fuck or be fucked by him again!

And that’s when I start to get another idea in my head— one I can only hope Gibson is up for.

***

After about an hour of driving, I finally arrive at my destination for the day.

It’s a small college town on the outskirts of Santa Fé that’s been nearly forgotten, except for maybe the kids who still attend college there. I doubt most locals remember that there’s a college there at all. Just the actual restaurants that were originally built for the university, and then ended up serving the locals long after the place was “cool” or the best “local” education.

Part of that may be the base that’s in Albuquerque. Most young kids (myself included) were more attracted to the armed services, rather than education straight up. Particularly since the Navy promises excellent educational packages to those who are of college-going age, but maybe from lower income families, like I was.

The coffee shop, Crazy Bean is quickly on my horizon. I duck inside as quickly as I can, enjoying the smell of pastries and fresh coffee. I’ll definitely be getting one of each while I’m waiting to see if Captain Gibson is up for a little fun.

I place my order for an apple fritter and a white café latté.

As I wait, I whip out my phone and get into my text app, ignoring the deluge of early-morning horror from Captain Stern. I decide to send Gibson a note.

“Hey, Captain,” I text, “it’s Frederick! I’m sorry for stepping out on you like that this morning.” I pause my typing, trying to think of a less dick-ish way to say it. “I didn’t want you to wake up because of me. I had some errands to handle. Some things to deal with, so I wanted to just let you sleep.”

I grimace a bit, knowing it’s a lie. I snuck out because Captain Stern got to me— because having too much intimacy like we shared scares me some. One boyfriend ended up tormenting me the morning after sex and made me feel less than safe in bed before breakfast. “

But I was wondering if you wanted to meet with me for coffee this morning or afternoon?”

To this, I add a heart-eyes emoji, a winking one too. I hit “send” just as my order is up.

I’m not expecting Captain Gibson to reply so soon, but he does. I hear that familiar ding before I even made it back to my table with my drink.

“Glad to know you are safe. Thought something might have happened to you when I woke up and you weren’t there,” reads the text from Gibson. It makes me feel guilty to read these words, but I read on.

“Meeting for coffee… I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. I do have charges pressed against me. They’re pending as of today, and with you being their origin, I think it’s a really bad idea for us to even be seen together. What happened last night was terrific, but we shouldn’t play with fire. We shouldn’t play with a loaded gun.”

I sigh, typing my reply at the same time that I take a slow sip of my drink.

“What if we met somewhere that wasn’t in Albuquerque? Like, let’s say somewhere an hour away? Like in Santa Fé? At a coffee shop no one will be able to recognize us in? What about that?”

I press send, feeling equally nervous and excited. I take a bite of my apple fritter, again surprised by how fast Captain Gibson texts back.

“I don’t know, Frederick. It still might be too risky with everything, you know.”

I lick my lips, imagining his handsome dick and sexy, big arms. His slightly worn, but intelligent and beautiful face.

“I would risk everything and anything for you, Captain. I am crazy about you. I hate to admit it like this, but I am. I smile, feeling my ears turning red. Come on… Just come see me for a while. I promise nobody knows or cares about us up here, Captain. We’ll be okay. Nobody will know. Nobody will accuse you of anything else.” I sigh, finishing with, “I promise,” and a fuck-ton of hearts and sparkly icons.

This time it takes Captain Gibson a little longer to reply to me and I’m actually afraid that I’ve turned him off. Offended him? Turned him off by my frankness or neediness? So I nervously start shoveling into my apple fritter to keep my mind off of how I might have just really fucked up and screwed my chances of getting to see him again so soon.

But a lot of my fears are unfounded. A text comes in and thankfully it’s before I can choke myself with my big bites of pastry.

“All right, Frederick. I’ll come visit you. But just for a little bit, and just in this scenario.”

I giggle louder than I had intended, catching the attention of the wait staff.

“Okay. Fine! I promise it won’t be a bad experience, and that it will be worth every bit of risk and every moment that you are here! I’m so excited, Captain!”

I hit send on this text and within a second or two, I have a reply.

“I am too, Frederick. Though I probably shouldn’t be saying such things like this given what we have found ourselves in.”

I bring my phone closer, almost feeling like I want to hug or kiss it. Instead though, I settle on giving him the address and driving directions.

“Can’t wait to see you, Captain! Even after just spending the night with you last night, I can’t get enough of being with you! Please get here soon!”

A follow-up text, a little bit of a wait.

“I’ll be there in the afternoon. Sometime after two. Probably closer to 3 PM. Take good care! Feel free to go get some lunch while you’re waiting for me, Frederick. I don’t like my boys hungry, you know?”

Here, Captain Gibson does something I didn’t think his personality would allow — he uses an emoji. An angel one followed up with a standard red heart.

Simple emojis I know, but they set my heart aflutter.

Captain Gibson’s into me, I think, taking a big sip of my sweet drink, he totally likes me, despite how serious and professional he acts around me. I’m so happy under these thoughts, I can barely breathe. I can barely keep myself from running out into the street and telling everybody I might have just landed myself a boyfriend.

A good one for once even if he is two decades older than me.