Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

Jen

T he rest of the flight was uneventful. We made it to Bagram and as we were setting up to land, I heard Sheppard on the radio. "Phoenix Ops Center, Archer Zero-Nine. The clouds have dropped again, and we won't be able to navigate through the pass. We will have to spend the night at Bagram."

I could hear the shouting in the Ops Center well before Ross ever got back to the radio. He was going to lose his mind. All we got from him was, "Roger that." His way of saying that he acknowledged and ‘fuck you'.

After landing, we met up with Arial on the flightline and helped Sarah find her way to her flight home. We all gave her big hugs and I couldn't help the way my heart swelled when Mark scooped her up, her feet dangling, and gave her a huge squeeze before sending her on her way. I followed Mark back to his aircraft, where he tied it down in the parking area they had assigned him.

"So, what do I owe you for this one?" I asked, smiling.

He gave me the normal confused look he gives when a question doesn't make sense to him. "You don't owe us anything. You're the one that got Sarah here. Your guys are the ones that took the bigger risk. It was a great thing that you did for her. There aren't many pilots that would do something like that," he said, reaching out and grabbing my hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze and shake before letting it go. My whole body felt the zip of energy from the contact of his hand against mine. "We're just glad that Sarah made it to her ride. This was just another ordinary flight for us."

He meant it wholeheartedly. ‘You don't owe us . We're happy to help.' He never took credit. He always credited his team. I chuckled, "Hardly. You flew through clouds illegally, got into an engagement, and are staying the night at a base you were never supposed to be in. How in the world is that ordinary?"

He smiled back at me, and the warmth I felt earlier spread through me again. He looked toward the terminal where we left Sarah, then back to me. "When the right people are in need, I'm…we're happy to do whatever we can. Besides, it gave us another chance to piss off Ross. For that, I should be thanking you ."

I smiled and turned to hide my ever-increasing blush. I wanted it to be personal. I wanted to think that he had done this for me. I wanted to be selfish. But I knew that he would have done this not just for me, or Sarah, but for anyone. He really would go to these lengths for anyone in need. And his team would follow, with full support. It just made me love him more. And yet, looking back at him, at the way he was smiling at me, it was personal. For the first time I could truly read him. He would do anything for me.

Dammit. How could you have wasted all this time? You were so afraid to admit that you loved this man, you nearly lost him.

Any lingering feelings of doubt, that he might hurt me, all of it evaporated completely. I knew without a doubt that if there was ever a man I could depend on, it was this one.

Nick came back from the terminal and approached us. I was grateful for the interruption. My feelings for Mark were beginning to overwhelm me. "Sarah is all set. We can tie down the aircraft and then head to the transient bunks for the night. First thing tomorrow, when the pass clears, we'll be on our way back." He and Sheppard looked at each other and both did a nod and grunt. It was the closest show of respect they were willing to give each other. That would have to do for now.

"I already tied down our aircraft, and Karolyn has rooms for us at the transient bunks. I'll meet you over there in a few minutes," I replied, shaking my head at their caveman way of communicating. It was the most peaceful exchange I could hope for from the two of them.

Nick paused for a moment, then turned and walked away. I should go with him. I should walk away now. I shouldn't just stand here waiting to make sure that Nick was gone. I definitely shouldn't be looking around to make sure that Mark's team was also gone. I needed to say goodnight and go to bed. That wasn't what I wanted anymore. It took all of this back and forth for me to really see it. I'd asked him for friendship, and he'd agreed. I wondered what he'd do if I asked for more now.

I turned back to Mark. "Come with me," he said, grabbing my wrist gently and moving away from the airfield. He'd taken the decision out of my hands and I was happy to go along with him. My skin flushed with goosebumps when his fingers slid over my wrist. My legs, clearly wanting in on the action, followed obediently.

"Where are we going?" I asked. His grip loosened, he was about to let go. My hand, acting completely on its own, twisted and interlaced our fingers. He looked at me, surprised, but then flashed me a quick smile and gave my hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. Probably so that no one would see us holding hands. My heart melted at his smile and I had to actually suppress what would have been a loud sigh.

"I want to show you something." We continued off the airfield and walked along a road lined with large concrete T-walls. Despite the clouds, the moon was starting to peek through and light up the area. It was surprisingly bright.

And wonderfully romantic. If moonlit walks along razor wire topped concrete walls was your thing. And still my heart was beating with all the excitement of a school girl on her first date.

We stopped at a large wooden platform that was built along the wall. A wooden ladder leaned against it, reaching to the top. We climbed up the ladder onto the platform. It was just high enough to look over the T-walls. On the other three sides was a railing. It was an observation platform, built just right so that you could look outside the base without being vulnerable.

"Take a look out there," he told me. I stepped up to the edge and looked out. My heart jumped again when he placed a hand on my back, nudging me to the wall. With the help of the moonlight, I could see an old building. It had a tower on one side with small windows, less than a foot high, spanning the height of the tower. The walls on either side were about six-feet high, making a square around the tower. "Those are the horse stables of Alexander the Great."

I reached up and brushed some loose hair back behind my ear. "Are you serious? They must be two-thousand-five-hundred-years old, and we're fifty feet away?" I was floored. Yet again, he managed to drop another amazing surprise in my lap. "Mark, this is amazing. Today, tonight, was incredible." I turned around to face him. "I'm so sorry for the way I've jerked you around. I just have a hard time-" His finger on my lips put a stop to my babbling apology.

I don't know what I thought would happen next. Whatever I was planning to say didn't matter, because he pulled me into his arms and dove into a kiss. My knees went weak, my whole body sliding down, but as always, he was there to lift me up.

My God I missed this.

He ran one hand around the back of my waist and pulled me tight against his body, the other hand found its way to the top of my back, ensuring that I couldn't break the kiss off before he was ready. Not that I could anyways. The way his lips were pressed against mine, his tongue sliding into my mouth, pressing and swirling against mine, I was powerless to stop him.

The dark part of my mind told me to push him away. It was the final attempt to sabotage my happiness. It said I should turn my head and tell him to stop. I silently told it to shut the fuck up. Instead of running away, I stroked my hands up his sides, feeling every muscle on the way up. I grasped his shoulders, firm and tight, and dug my hands in like I was holding on for dear life. These are the things I'd been working to avoid for so long, and now here I was pushing against his tongue with mine, sweeping the insides of his lips. My brain gave one last attempt to tell me that I most certainly shouldn't be moaning with the release of this pent-up desire to feel him wanting me again.

Except that I was. And there was no way I was going to be the one to stop. I was done running. If he wanted me, I was his and I had every intention of making him mine.