Free Love Through Pain by Ancelli

private.”
    “That’s the best way to survive in this game.” He played on his keyboard, trying to get Smith out of his workspace. He knew the office would eventually find out; they had to do the paper work for his dependents. He’d already taken her to get her identification card, and her first appointment at the Naval hospital was last week. He got to see his son for the first time, and the baby was sucking his thumb.
    Smith sauntered to the door. “See you later.”
    “ITC Martinez.” Petty Officer White rushed into his office as Chief Smith was leaving.
    Javier stared at him, waiting for him to say whatever was so urgent.
    “Our local networks just went down,” he stated, a little out of breath.
    Javier placed his hands on his desk and pushed to stand . “Did you check the circuits?” He passed by him.
    “Yes , chief.”
    “Let’s go check it out .” They exited his office, and White followed him down the narrow hall.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    It was seven o’clock in the evening when they finally fixed the problem with the local network. After hours of diagnostic and corrective technique, they were able to get the system back up and running. Now it was eight o’clock, and he was heading home. He thought about getting something to eat, and decided against it, he was too tired.
    He knew Jazmine would be locked up in her room working ; it seemed that’s all she did. She never left the apartment. Javier tried to get her out, but she always made up some excuse on why she couldn’t; he wondered why. The only conclusion he could come with was that she was embarrassed to be pregnant, and she was hiding from the world.
    He arrived home and parked in his parking space, noticing a red supped-up Honda Ridgeline in his visitors’ space. He stepped out his black Ford 150 and inspected the other vehicle , it had dark beige interior.
    Maybe she has a visitor , he thought, going up the sideway to his townhouse.  I did say she could see anyone she wanted to. For some reason that thought bothered him. He didn’t want to see another man in his house. As he got closer, he heard music.
    First a long day at work, and now he could possibly find a man in his house. He placed the key in its hole and turned the doorknob. He strode in, the delicious scent of different foods made his stomach grumble. Then he noticed Jazmine was playing the playlist from his iPod.  He could hear her murder the lyrics to Marc Anthony’s song, ‘Vivir Mi Vida, ’ and she didn’t have a clue what she was singing.
    H e ambled to the kitchen area, stopped, and chuckled softly. Jazmine was dancing to the music. She surprised him with her moves as she danced salsa. Jazmine was pretty good. Her back was turned to him. She opened the refrigerator, and with the help of the door she seductively grinded down, and then up. Javier couldn’t help it; he ogled her round, firm ass, stop looking . She closed the fridge and began dancing again, and he took that opportunity to silently pace forward.
    He too started dancing behind her, and gently placed his hands around her waist, making her jump in surprise. “It’s me,” he softly voiced before she slowly turned around.
    They gazed at each other for a couple of seconds without saying a word.
    “Come on . Dance with me.” He took her hands in his, still moving his hips.
    She smiled, placing her hands behind his neck. “How long have you been watching me?”
    “Let’s just say, I didn’t know you could dance salsa.” He took her left hand in his and twirled her around. “And you need to stop singing in Spanish.” His chuckle was deep.
    Jazmine smacked him on the chest with her right hand, and giggled. “Whatever, I can sing.”
    He arched his brow. “If you say so.” That’s when he noticed her nose wrinkled every time she giggled.
    “I do .” She kept tittering, making her stomach jiggle.
    Javier was getting use to coming home to someone. He never thought it was possible. He enjoyed his space ,