Free Long Way Home by Ann Vaughn Page A

belt buckle, though, he tore his mouth from hers,
breathless.
             “Let
me take you somewhere…we can drive into Sorghum Mills to a hotel or…”
             She
caught his lower lip between her teeth, cutting him off.
             “Later…I
want you here, in our place…now, Shane.”
             “I
don’t have any protection…” he began but she again cut him off.
             “I’m
on the pill, and I haven’t been with anyone since you…don’t make me beg.”
             He
froze momentarily and looked into her eyes.  “No one?  Not in four
years?”
             “You’re
all I’ve ever wanted, Shane.  Only you.  And you’re wasting time,”
she said, tugging on his belt.
             “Yes,
ma’am,” he finally relented.
             They
made quick work of undressing.  Shane marveled at the changes being in the
Army had made to her body.  Her curves were lush and toned and all woman,
no traces of the eighteen year old body he knew before left.   He
gave her the top, let her take him and control the pace, loving the look of her
body in the moonlight.  The sound of their lovemaking was drowned by the
sounds of the waterfall; their shouts of satisfaction barely heard above the
rushing water. 
             “I’ve
missed you…so much,” she confessed, lying on his chest as they both struggled
to control their breathing. 
             “I’ve
missed you, too, Tess…I wish you were home to stay.”
             She
lifted her head to rest her chin on her folded hands on his chest, looking down
at him.
             “I
extended my service.  I’ve been at Fort Benning the entire time.  I
wanted a chance to go overseas.  When Captain Gibson took this tour, I
knew I had to go with him.”
             “You
got a thing for this Captain Gibson?” he teased.
             Tessa
smiled.  “No, not like that.  He’s like a father to me.  His
secretary was retiring after my first year of service.  She hand-picked me
to be her replacement.  She said she could tell that I had the right
personality to suit him.”
             “I
just can’t see you being anyone’s secretary.  Seems like a waste of your
talent to me.”
             “Well,
I’m not a secretary in the traditional sense.  Tactical support for the
unit is what I’m best at.  Not to brag too much, but I’m the reason
Captain Gibson is even heading to Afghanistan.  Three of our Rangers, Colt
Harris, Jack Cooper and Derek Whitten were assigned to a Special Forces Task
Force.  It’s a joint effort with the SEALs and the Marines.  Colt,
Coop and Whit specifically asked for me to be head of their tactical
support.  Captain Gibson stipulated that where I go, he goes, so they
basically created a position for him so that he could accompany me.”
             “That’s
awesome, Tess.  And that’s more fitting of you than just being a
secretary.”
             “What
about you?  Four years of college and you’re going in as a patrolman?”
             “Gotta
pay my dues.”
             She
stroked his hair.  “You just be smart out there and be careful.”
             “Same
goes,” he countered, kissing her.
             They
spent every minute of the rest of their time together that weekend.  It
was like the last four years had never happened and they’d never been
apart.  After they dressed, Shane drove them into Sorghum Mills and they’d
checked into a hotel and spent hours in bed, rediscovering each other, knowing
it would be a long time before they saw each other again. 
             Sunday
evening, they parted with promises to stay in touch as much as possible. 
Shane hated leaving her.  He had a sinking feeling in his gut that things
would never be the same between them after this.
             Tessa
had watched him go, knowing that she’d been