When Love Commands Read online

  Claire's breath caught. "One of my field medics. I sorta took him under my wing and he went out on his first mission, so cocky and grinning, giving me the thumbs up. When they came back in the next night, he was in a body bag. Blown apart by a Goddamn IED. Christ, he was only nineteen and he didn't even get to live."

  "I know. I lost a few good friends over there and a few new ones as well. It's hard, but we have a duty and he knew. You can't be guilty for surviving, Claire,none of us can." "I'm so scared you won't come back, Daniel," she whispered. Daniel cupped her face in his hands. "I'm coming back because now

  I have someone to come back to." "I'm glad you think so, 'cause if you don't I'm going to kick your

  ass," Claire said. Daniel let out a bark of laughter and pulled her to him, tumbling them both on the bed. "Oh, you will, huh?" He tickled her and she squealed and wiggled. The dreams that woke her up were put aside for the moment as they played.

  Chapter Five

  The time past all too quickly, and soon it was their last night together. Daniel was leaving in the morning. Claire left work early and came home to make the night special for them. She made a romantic dinner and lit candles. She found the sexiest piece of lingerie she owned and when he knocked at her door she was ready.

  When Daniel saw Claire standing there in a little red nightgown he was speechless. "Wow." "I take it you approve of my attire," Claire said. "Oh yes, I do. Claire you take my breath away," he replied and took

  her into his arms. "So, what is all this, hmmm?" "I made you a special dinner. I figure for the next few months you'd be eating God awful Army food or MREs and I wanted to give you something good before you…" Claire's voice hitched as a sob escaped her lips."

  Daniel tilted her head up to look into her eyes. "I'm going to come back, you know."

  "I never knew it could be this hard. I have never been on this side of it. I don't want you to go, even though I know you have to," Claire whispered.

  "I know, it's killing me to leave you, too." Daniel buried his face in her hair as he spoke.

  Claire kissed him feverishly, holding him tightly. "We have tonight, we'll make it last as long as we can." * * * * Daniel kissed her in the same desperate manner, wanting to imprint her taste and how she felt in his arms. God, he was going to ache for her every day in that hot miserable desert until he could come home to her again. He lifted her against him and Claire wrapped her legs around his waist. Dinner was forgotten along with everything else for Daniel—all he wanted was to immerse himself in Claire. He walked with Claire until she was pressed against the wall next to the kitchen. Daniel's lips trailed down her neck to suckle her nipples through the silky material of her nightgown. He had this need to feast on her, and he intended to taste every part of her body before the night was over.

  Her legs slipped to the ground and, even though their lips were fused, their hands tore at his clothes to free him of their confinement. Daniel went to his knees in front of her and slipped his hand under her thin nightgown. He tugged her tiny panties down her legs and his mouth was on her, tasting her womanly nectar. She tasted like sweet cream against his tongue as he slipped it between the soft folds of flesh. He felt Claire's hands on his shoulders and then his head caressing him as he tasted her.

  "Daniel, Daniel," she chanted his name and spread her legs wider as he buried his face between them.

  Daniel felt her body shake at the first tremors of her orgasm. As it overtook her completely with its force, her body flowed onto Daniel's lips and tongue. Daniel got up quickly and wrapped her legs around his waist, slipping his cock inside her deeply with one smooth stroke. With her back pressed against the wall he took her, thrusting into her deeply over and over again. Claire could only hold on in the storm he was creating.

  "God, Claire, you feel so good. I don't know how I am going to live without you, without this, for so long," he muttered against her neck.

  "Oh, Daniel," was all she could whisper as she held on to him. Even in the throes of their lovemaking their tears of sadness fell.

  His body trembled along with hers as their passion reached the heights of ecstasy. He felt her body tighten around his manhood as she orgasmed on gasping breaths, and he groaned his pleasure as he felt his release over take him. Claire's legs fell weakly from around him and she laid her head against his shoulder. Daniel lifted her and walked on not so steady legs himself to the bedroom. He placed her in bed, climbing in next to her and pulling her close against him. Claire wrapped her arms around him, her tears on his skin, and Daniel felt his heart breaking. He had never had to experience this during his career in the military. He had been deployed, off to serve his country, many times before. He had watched as families said goodbye to their soldiers with tears from those who stayed and those who left. He always wished he had someone to tell him goodbye, and now that he did it felt like someone had stuck a shard of glass in his heart and twisted it cruelly so he could feel every bite of pain. "Don't cry, baby, please don't cry." He tried to soothe her, but he felt

  his own tears clog his throat. "I'm sorry, I really don't mean to cry. I wanted to send you off with

  a happy memory." She sobbed. "I am the happiest I have ever been." He kissed her lips. "We have

  tonight, baby, the sun is still far way, we still have tonight." They made love again in desperation, trying to keep the light of day away as long as they could. When the sun rose Claire drove Daniel from her place to the airport where he would be meeting the rest of his troop. Along with the rest of the wives, husbands and children, mothers and fathers, she said goodbye to Daniel. She watched as he walked away, he stopped,turned back, and pulled her into his embrace one more time.

  "I love you, you hear me? I love you," he said fiercely and strode off quickly.

  "I love you!" she yelled back though her tears. And he turned once more to beam a grin at her that could out shine the sun. * * * * Claire went to her mother's house straight from the airport and rang

  the doorbell. Esther Kirkland opened the door. "Claire! This is a surprise, but why didn't you use your key?" She took one look at her daughter's face. "What the matter, what's wrong?

  "I met this guy and I love him. He's a soldier and I just w-watched him walk away to get on a-a plane to go back to Iraq. Mom, I love him so much and I don't think I can handle this," Claire said and walked into her mother's arms sobbing.

  Esther enfolded her daughter in a hug. "This was the first I'm hearing about this man that you love, baby."

  "I know, Mom," Claire hiccupped. "I'll tell you all about him, I promise. We only had two weeks before he went back to Iraq. Right now I just need to hear you say everything will be okay."

  "Oh, sweet girl, come on inside. It's going to be okay. He'll be fine, you'll see. I'll make us some iced tea and you'll get it all out, okay?"

  Claire just nodded as she walked inside with her mother's arms around her. Thousands of miles above her, Daniel was sitting with the rest of his brigade going to the desert and missing his woman like crazy. * * * * The first few weeks for Claire went by in a haze. She went to work and did her job in her same efficient manner, but to her it felt like a part of her was missing. Her co-workers could see it but said nothing, except for Sheila. Claire had told her that Daniel had left to go back to Iraq, and she had even laughed a little when she told Sheila she loved him.

  One day as Claire went through her shift at the hospital, Sheila stopped by her office to see her head down on her desk. "Hey, Claire, you want to grab some lunch?" Claire's head came up and Sheila saw the tears on her cheeks. She stepped in and closed the door behind her. "Aw, honey, are you okay?"

  Claire nodded and wiped her face furiously. "I'm okay, I just get his face in my head and I miss him and I can't stop the tears."

  "That's love, honey. If my man had to be in that position, I would have to join up, too. I couldn't handle it without him. It makes me appreciate him being home when I get there. It will be fine, he'll be home soon," Sheila said, comfortingly rubbing her shoulder. Claire sniffed. "I know." "So, you wanna go to lunch, my treat?" Sheila asked hopefully. "Not today, I feel tired and achy. I think I am coming down with the

  flu," Claire replied. "Well, if you are sick, I'm sure one of the on-calls would cover for

  you to go home." "No, I want to work as much as possible. I can't sit at home and

  think, I need to keep busy." Claire's days and nights were filled with thoughts of Daniel. She knew the routine, it would take awhile for him to get to Iraq, and then a convoy trip to where he and his battalion would be based. Claire knew the operating bases were long distances in between, with rough desert and insurgent groups. So until he got to his base she would not receive a phone call. She would work and keep busy until he came home.

  She worked her shift and a few hours overtime so she could be tired and just fall into bed to sleep. She really did think she was coming down with something because she felt completely exhausted when she got home that night, more than usual after a long shift. She kicked off her shoes and clothes and sat in front of her laptop to check her mail before she went to bed. Her screen flashed on and she clicked quickly to skim though her e-mails until she came to the e-mail address that was named [email protected].. Her heart leapt in her throat and her hands shook as she clicked to open the email and read…

  My dearest Claire:

  We haven't gotten to base yet. We stopped at one of the outposts for a day and they happened to have a computer link. I bribed one of the guys to let me get on it really quickly to create this e-mail account and to e-mail you. This is your special e-mail address, e-mail me here as much as you want and I'll reply as much as I can. I'll call you as much as I can too, every day when we get to the base and there are no sandstorms (you know how they are). Guess what, I bought a webcam in Germany so you can see me when I get to use Yahoo Messenger. Can you get one too so I can see you? Take pictures and send them to my e-mail. I need to see your face as much as I can to get through these months. (Naughty pictures will be appreciated). It's damnably hot here! I keep picturing myself with you in your bed eating the strawberry ice cream you like so much. I liked especially that I got to lick it off your belly. Gosh, I miss you so much, Claire. I see your face every time I close my eyes. A little secret (Uh, I borrowed a pair of your undies from your drawer when I was leaving).

  Claire laughed out loud as she read that piece of the letter, then

  continued reading:.

  I'll bring them back, I promise. I need something that smells just like you to keep me going over here. I have to go now, the guy I bribed is giving me the look. Baby, I miss you so much and I love you, I swear I love you now and always. Kisses to you, my love.

  Daniel…

  PS… I have had so many dirty dreams about you since I left. I wrote

  one out for you. I'm not really good at story telling but here it goes… I love the smell of your hair as I'm holding you in my arms, standing behind you. You pull your hair over to one side exposing your neck and tender earlobe.

  You feel the heat of my breath on your skin as I slowly kiss your neck, and begin to rub my hands from your waist up to your breast. I can feel your nipples begin to harden under your shirt. You begin to breathe deeper as I start to suck on your ear and begin to unbutton your shirt. You reach to hold my head as I continue to lick your neck and ear. You can feel my cock grow hard as your ass is pressed up against me. I slide my hand under your bra and rub my fingers across your hard nipples and begin to gently squeeze both,at the same time you reach behind to feel my hard cock as it bulges from my pants... You start to purr, as I slide my hands down your stomach to undo your pants, sliding one hand down between your legs, and feeling the warmth and wetness of your pussy. You pull my hand up and slowly lick my fingers tasting your sweetness. I continue to slide your pants to your ankles and you step out of your pants, turning toward me on your knees you begin to unzip my pants and pull them quickly off for you can't wait to get my cock in your mouth.

  You begin to suck my cock, licking the shaft and taking special attention to run your tongue up from the bottom, to the tip before you suck the head of my cock. You can feel my cock pulse as you suck it. You squeeze the head as you suck my balls, don't stop, you are doing great. You continue to suck my dick, taking it all the way in down to the base. "I love how you taste me" You keep that up and I will explode in your mouth. I have to stop you; it feels so good it is almost unbearable.

  I grab and lift you up, carrying you to the bed. There you lay, waiting for me as I move in between your legs spreading them apart. My cock hard and ready, I slowly ease it into your wet and swollen pussy lips, you begin to moan again as I slowly begin to stroke it in and out. You begin to move your hips with me and we begin our dance of loving each other. I feel your pussy get hotter and wetter each time I stroke you. You tell to me fuck you harder, "pound me hard baby—make me cum" I lift your legs up on my shoulders. And begin to long stroke you, my balls smacking your ass each time I drive my cock in deeper and harder. You squeeze your nipples for me as I watch. You are dripping wet and I continue to fuck you hard. You reach and grab my ass cheeks and feel my balls smack your little brown love button each time. Claire read and reread that e-mail over and over again. She had to fan herself while she read before she typed her own e-mail to Daniel. Her heart felt so full, relieved because he was okay and she finally had heard from him. The heat at the end of his letter left her body aching and made her quiver. Daniel had succeeded in making her hot and wet with his words. Not a good story teller, my ass, she thought as she wrote. She was filled with love like she never felt before. They would be okay and he would be home to her soon.

  She finished her e-mail, turned off her computer, and went to bed, and for the first time since he left she slept until morning and without the bad dreams. * * * * Daniel walked into his trailer, tired and hot and miserable. He had spent so long trying to get to the Operations Base that he had sand in places he did not care to think about. He took a sniff of himself and wrinkled his nose, making a mental note that a bath was his first priority.

  He dropped his heavy pack on the floor of his new home for the next eight months. It was nothing more than a big truck container with windows and a small air conditioning unit that did little to cool the hot air. Shelves made of plywood would hold his stuff, the things he did not take with him when he was out on missions. He was based out of Camp Regan this time—his mind went back to the camp where he had first met Claire and his heart ached for her. He took up his things to go and take a shower, and instead of walking to where the men took their showers he walked to the recreation center where the soldiers could make phone calls and use the computer.

  He would not be able to call her yet. They had just arrived and did not have the proper authorizations in place. But, he would be able check and see if she had e-mailed him. His few minutes turned into a half an hour wait to use a computer. He was in the company of other guys who stunk to high heaven, so Daniel did not feel too badly about his own smell.

  Finally he got to click on his e-mail and he saw one from [email protected]. Even though it was from a week before it was the greatest thing he ever saw. He had no one to e-mail him or even talk to back home before, but now he had her. A smile broke his face as he began to read.

  Daniel,

  I was so worried until you e-mailed me. It's getting cooler here in Washington and you know right after Labor Day the leaves will change and we will be in autumn. I wish you could be here with me to see the leaves change and walk with me. I told my mom about you, well, I cried about you right after you left. You have been summoned to her house for dinner as soon as you get home (smile). Don't worry, she is harmless, she won't bite. I hope you get to your FOB soon, I hate thinking about you out there without any cover. You have to promise me that even when it gets bad you will tell me and not try to sugarcoat it. I was a soldier, too, after all and I want you to be able to lean on me. I will buy that webcam after work tomorrow so when you get to base you'll be able to see me. As you can see I created your own special e-mail as well. I will not be outdone and I need it to use the webcam. I'll have a few naughty pictures for you by the time you contact me again. How does a pink lace teddy sound? By the way, you stole my favorite pair of red panties when you left. I expect them back minus the sand. Daniel laughed out loud when he read that part of her e-mail. Other soldiers looked around at him and he quieted down to finish reading his e-mail from his woman. I know what you mean about the missing my love, because I feel like I have this great big hole in my life and it will only go away when you come home. I love you, too, Daniel so very much with all my heart and soul. I have to go to bed now, panda bear. It was a long day at the hospital and I feel kinda like I am catching the flu. I'll be fine, don't you worry about me. You keep your head down and be safe, my darling man. I love you always.

  Claire…

  PS. I hope you know you almost made me orgasm just by writing that little note to me. I want everything you described when you come home. As you close your eyes tonight, I want you to picture me over you, straddling your hard body and riding your cock. Picture holding me close and kissing me while I make love to you. Feel my love surround you and keeping you safe… Daniel started to type on the key of the computer in front of him. Soon he was done, but he did not want to move from the computer. It was the only connection he had to her, until the person next in line cleared his throat to let him know other people were waiting. Only then did Daniel move to go take his long-awaited shower and to get something to eat. He would picture her tonight doing all she said and more. His Claire missed him and would be waiting for him to come home. * * * * Two weeks later, Claire sat in her office, stunned. Sheila stood in

  front of her desk, looking at her and grinning broadly "You are sure about this, Sheila? Absolutely positive?" Claire