Chapter 50 Never Give Up
I believe that we are whom we choose to be. Nobody is going to give you anything. You have got to go out and fight for it. Nobody knows what you want, expect you, and nobody will be as sorry as you if you don’t get it. Nobody has the power to shatter your dreams, but you. So do I believe that I should give up on my dream?
I have fought with every part of my being to get what I want. It takes a lot for me to give up. I can’t just give up because of one thing that happened. I will keep on fighting and fighting until I have nothing left in me, and giving up is the only option left.
Now, did I expect for this conversation to happen so soon again, not truly after everything that we have just gone through. I know that I had a very close call with death, but does this now mean that I wish to go back home?
But what I also do know is that she lived her own horrible experience herself; I can not even begin to imagine how terrified she must have been. Therefore I can completely understand her question.
“Boo, I don’t want even to consider such a thing. But if you wish to, then I shall not stop you from getting a transfer back home. I understand why you want to do it, but I am here to stay; I did not come to give up before it even began.”
“Would you want me to stay if I choose to go home?”
“Of course, I am going to want to be here with me, but I am not a selfish man that is going to keep you here against your will.”
“Soldier, I am just scared that something bad will happen again. And I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Getting hurt is part of the job; whether I bump my toe or get a cut, I am going to get hurt. I know you are scared that I might leave here without another part of my body and, even worse, in a body bag. But we all know that when we sign up to become a Marine.”
“Well, I do not want to be that person that gives up so easily. I don’t want to run away because, in fact, it was my own fault that this happened.”
“Don’t you ever dare to say that; it is not your fault! Do not do that to yourself; you did not ask for some sick suck to be wandering the forest.”
With that, I pull her closer into my embrace; her body is still trembling. I know that the memory is still fresh in her mind, and the nightmare is chasing her relentlessly. I can see she is dead tired.
“Come, I am taking you to your tent; you need to get rest.”
“Soldier, I am fine.”
“No, you are not. You look exhausted. I promise I will sit by your bedside, and I will not leave.”
“You must rest, not me. Your wound needs to heal.”
“It is healing perfectly fine. Now stop arguing with me and get this damn drip out of my arm.”
I watch as she carefully takes off the plaster and slowly pulls out the needle. Lucky I am not squeamish at the sight of a needle, for god, that thing is long.
After a few uncomfortable twists and turns, I get off the bed and we make our way outside to get to Ana’s tent. But then I notice something odd and strange around the camp.
“Where is everybody?”
“Ray took your squad and MacKey to go to that camp.”
“Fuck, why did you not wake me up?”
“Seriously? And let you run around with that wound?”
“It is only a cut; it is not like I can’t walk.”
“The only walking you are doing, is taking me to my tent. Do you understand me? If I catch you sneaking off, then you are dead.”Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
Well, to say that I am not a little disappointed would be an understatement; I would have loved to go see those assholes taken out. Guess I will have to settle for the stories thereafter, and as is, my focus should be on Ana now. She needs to get this man out of her head; I know it won’t happen now, but if she can only sleep, then I would say that we are halfway there.
So as we step inside her tent, I make her snuggle under a warm blanket, for the rain has started again, and it is fairly cold out there now. Once she is comfortable, I drop my face to meet her lips and gently place them against her.
“Ethan. We cannot…”
I place my finger against her soft lips and wrap her face in my hands. I pull her face closer until there is nothing but a mere breath between our lips.
“Ssshhh Ana. Just let me kiss you.”
I take my right hand and pull her long brown hair away from her shoulder. Before I know what consumes me, I lay my lips against her naked soft skin. The scent of her perfume attacks my senses, making the desire to kiss her even more intense. I kiss her from her shoulder up the sensitive parts of her neck. I softly nip at her earlobe and feel her squirm on the bed.
“Soldier, what are you doing?”
“It is foreplay, boo.”
“I thought you were going to kiss me?”
“Who says I can’t build up to a kiss too, or did you perhaps have something else in mind?”
“Hahaha, Not so fast Rambo.”
“Hey, a man can only dream.”
“Are you going to stop talking and kiss me?”
In one swift movement, I lift her onto my lap. She gasps loudly but does not protest. We stare at each other, deep into each other’s eyes. Her eyes are soft and full of wonder; mine is full of curiosity and passion. No words are spoken, but a story worthy of them is communicated. I lean in and softly kiss up and down her neck again. She lets out little whimpers of anticipation. I work my way up to her tender, smooth lips.
She moves closer until her forehead touches mine. Her lips are shaking as she breathes little, short breaths. I gently lean in and touch her warms, velvety lips. I hold her head in my hands and pull her into a fiery, passionate kiss. Unable to control myself anymore, I press through the seams of her lips and entwine her in a deeper kiss.
She scrunches my shirt in her hands and lifts it up until she finds her hand underneath it.
“Oh my god, do you know how I have missed this.”
Her hands are exploring every crevice of my sculpted chest. She moves her nails down and scrapes them hard against my rippled abs. But as soon as she realizes what she is doing, she stops.
“Shit. I am so sorry, soldier.”
“Don’t be; you can take it off if you like.”
“Hahaha, you just want to get us naked.”
“Boo, it is not want but more like I am.”
She looks deep into my eyes; her big brown eyes are piercing deep into my soul, and beyond this man that truly loves her with all his heart and soul. I tuck a piece of stray hair behind her ear and caress her cheek with the back of my hand. I slide my finger over her lips that is covered with her best deep cherry red. She slowly parts her lips, and I feel her warm breath cover my skin. She closes her eyes and stops to breathe for a minute.
I grab hold over of her tight ass and draw her even closer to me.
“Soldier, we can’t…”
“Nobody is going to look for us, or do you want me to stop?”
She answers by scrunching her fingers in the seems of my shirt and gently pulling it over my head.
“God, soldier I forgot how damn good you look.”
The cool tent feels hot and heavy. I am finding it hard to hold back. I am caught between the intoxication; I do not want this moment to end. She trails her fingers down my chest to the seams of my pants. Her fingertips are burning like flames into my skin. As she reaches the seams of my pants, I let out a deep, low moan.
I grab hold onto the ends of her shirt and slide my hands underneath it. Then as if in slow motion, I start to lift it over her head. As I finally have it on the floor, I shyly look up at her supple breasts that are firmly tucked in under a red lace bra. Her stomach is flat and toned, the contours of her waist in a perfect pear shape. She is absolutely beyond what beauty can compare.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?”
She looks down at her lap, afraid to stare me into my eyes. I only but take one finger and lift her chin up so I can meet her eyes. Although her eyes are soft, I notice the feelings behind them, as if she were longing for something. She touches her forehead to mine, and I feel a warmth, one that I’ve never experienced before. It fills my body, from head to toe, invigorating me and filling me with passion and hope that is so powerful. I lean my head closer until our lips meet. Gentle but passionate, I press my lips into hers. The world around me slows so that I can savor this moment.
Then all of a sudden, someone is at the entrance of the tent.
“Uhm…I am sorry to interrupt.”
“Fuck Lewis, don’t you know how to knock.”
“It is a…tent…”
I can see the trouble brewing in his eyes, not so much trouble but fear.
“What is the matter?”
“We have a problem.”