12. Peyton

Chapter Twelve

PEYTON

Thankfully, the past week back on base has kept me crazy busy. So busy, I hardly had time to miss Stacey during the day. My nights were a completely different story. We FaceTimed each night once we were both home. Not being able to hold her and kiss her each day sucked ass, but that will make her arriving here in just a little while all worth it.

She texted me about twenty minutes ago that she was leaving her apartment, so I expect her to be pulling up to the base gates in about an hour, depending on traffic. I have to meet her up at the visitor center to get her a pass to get on base when she visits.

I take another look around my apartment to make sure I didn't miss cleaning anything. Not quite sure why I'm worried, I've always kept a clean and tidy living space. I check the fridge to make sure everything is ready for the dinner I plan to make for the two of us once Stacey is safely here. I'm not sure either of us will be able to keep from tearing each other's clothes off as soon as we walk back in the door, so I've decided against making dinner before she gets here. This way, I can make it whenever we're ready to eat tonight.

After checking and double-checking, I glance at the clock and see the hour has finally almost passed. I head out to my truck and drive over to the base visitor center. I pull in the parking lot but don't see her car yet, so I head inside to get a start on the paperwork I have to fill out.

A short while later, with all the information I can fill out without her driver's license and car information, I sit back and wait for her to arrive. It feels like forever, when in reality, it's only about five minutes before the door opens, and in she walks.

"Hey!" She practically runs over to me, throwing her arms around my neck as I lift her off her feet, pulling her tight against my body. I take in a deep breath, breathing her into my lungs. Her sweet smell has my dick hardening against the zipper of my jeans. "I missed you," she says against my ear.

"Missed you, too, gorgeous," I reply, kissing her just under and behind her ear. I feel the shiver that slides down her body from the contact. "What do you say we get you that pass and get out of here? I've got plans for tonight that don't include standing around the guard shack."

"Sounds like a plan." She drops a quick kiss to my lips before I set her back down on her feet.

We quickly finish up the paperwork. The soldier on duty issues her the pass and we make our way out to the parking lot.

"Have you ever been on a military base before?"

"Nope. At least, not that I can remember."

"Then follow me. When we get through the gate, your vehicle is going to be searched. It's a requirement for all non-government vehicles, no big," I explain. "Once we're finished and driving again, watch your speed, as the MP's aren't as forgiving as the cops outside of base are. If we happen to get separated at one of the stoplights, I'll pull over and wait for you."

"Okay, sounds easy enough," she states. I kiss her again and then open her door for her.

"My place is only about five minutes away."

"See you soon then," she says, winking at me.

I jump into my truck and pull out, making sure she's behind me when we get in the line to go past the guard shack.

"Good evening, sir," the young guard greets me as I flash him my ID.

"The car behind me is with me. We just got her a base pass."

"No problem, sir, I'll get you both through."

"Thanks, have a nice night." I pull forward and wait up ahead of the gate for the guard to check Stacey's pass and ID, and then wave her through. She pulls up behind me and parks. I stand with her, holding her close, as her vehicle is checked in its entirety, for any questionable items or substances.

"Sure hope he doesn't confiscate my blow-up doll," she murmurs, then bursts out laughing as I whip my head over to look at her, eyes wide. "Kidding. Oh my gosh, the look on your face. Priceless."

"You're crazy," I reply, squeezing her hip and chuckling. "You had me for a minute."

Once the all-clear is given, I lead the way to my apartment, thankful we don't get separated on the way.

I park and jump out of my truck before Stacey can get her own car turned off. I open her back door and grab the small weekend bag she has packed, slinging it over my shoulder, then opening her door so she can get out.

"I can't believe you're finally here," I tell her as I press a kiss to her lips.

With my empty hand, I link our fingers together and lead her up to my apartment. Once inside, I kick off my shoes and take her bag into the bedroom, dropping it on the floor at the end of the bed.

"Nice place!" Stacey calls out from the living room.

"Did you think I'd live in a dump?" I ask with a laugh, walking out to where she's standing, in the middle of the room.

"No, just was expecting more of a bachelor pad. That, and I was surprised when you told me you lived in an apartment. I thought you would have to be in the barracks."

"The barracks were full when I was assigned to this base, so they had to make some exceptions. Now that I've been here for so long, they've just let me stay in this apartment. Wait, have you been researching being in the Army?" I ask.

"Maybe," she says coyly as I pull her into my embrace. Her arms go around my waist as our lips come together. I suck her bottom lip between my teeth and gently bite down, then track my hands down her sides, over her hips, and onto her ass. Grabbing two handfuls, I pick her up and her legs wrap around my waist.

I break the kiss, bringing our foreheads together for a few moments.

"Dinner or bedroom first?" I ask, giving her the option.

She bites that bottom lip while thinking over her decision. "Um…bedroom," she finally whispers in my ear.

I quickly move us to the bedroom and lay her down on the bed.

"Don't," I say, stopping her from taking off her shirt. "Let me."

I skim my fingertips along the small strip of skin that's peeking out between the hem of her t-shirt and her jeans. I slide my hands up under her shirt, taking it with me and exposing more skin as my hands move further up.

I bring my lips to the exposed skin and kiss each inch as I uncover it. Stacey grabs the back of my head, no longer able to hold on to my hair as I had it cut once I returned to base last weekend. Her nails still dig in as she scrapes them against my skin.

With her shirt pushed up to just under her breasts, I tug her to a sitting position and slip the top off over her head. Her breasts fill out the bra she's got on, almost allowing them to spill over. I kiss along the tops of them as I reach behind her and flick open the clasp. Her bra falls away from her body and I cup her breasts in my hands. I roll her hardening nipples between my fingertips before I suck one into my mouth, making sure to lavish it with my tongue.

As I focus my attention to her breasts, Stacey starts sliding my own shirt up my abs. I break away from her chest to pull it off over my head, tossing it onto the floor behind me. She takes advantage of our position and starts kissing along my chest and abs, making her way down to the top of my jeans. I feel the button of my jeans pop open and the zipper lower.

"Hey now," I chide. "I was having fun undressing you."

She reaches into my briefs and pulls my cock out. I don't get any further before her lips are wrapping around the head and she sucks me into her mouth. " Fuck!" I groan as she sucks harder. "Damn, babe. That feels so good," I encourage her as I slip a hand into her hair, pulling it up and out of her face. I bring the other one down and tweak her nipples while she continues to suck my cock.

I let her have her fun for a few more moments and then pull from her mouth. I drop my lips to hers, taking them in a searing kiss. "I need inside you now," I growl against her lips.

Without missing a beat, she unbuttons her jeans and starts shimmying out of them while we continue to kiss.

I wrap my arm around her back and lift her higher on the bed. I reach over and grab a condom from my bedside table and quickly get it open and rolled down my shaft. With the condom on, I sink two fingers inside her to make sure she's wet and ready for me. I knew she would be, so I pull my fingers from her core and line my cock up, thrusting quickly until I'm fully seated.

We find our rhythm, both quickly recalling what works for each other as we chase our orgasms.

Stacey pushes against my chest, grabbing my attention. "Stop," she instructs. "I want you from behind."

I slip from her as she flips over and onto her hands and knees. I get behind her and sink back inside. This new angle makes her feel even tighter than before and has a vise-like grip on my cock.

I smack my hips against hers, driving into her, until I feel her start to spasm around my cock. Her body milking my cock has me losing control and I fall over the edge as my orgasm rips from my body, filling the condom.

I collapse against her back as she falls against the bed. We stay like that for a few moments before I pull from her and roll next to her. I eventually slip the condom off and toss it in the small trashcan I keep next to the bed.

With the condom discarded, I pull Stacey into my arms, resting her head on my chest. "Welcome to my place," I say on a laugh.

"Quite the welcome you gave me," she teases me.

"I can make every welcome like that, if you'd like," I say, squeezing her hip in my hand.

"We'll see. Now, what's this you said earlier about some dinner? I'm starving and have a feeling I'm going to need all the energy I can to get me through this weekend visit."

"I've got some steaks and potato salad in the fridge. I just need to toss them onto the grill. Everything else is ready to go."

"Sounds perfect."

"How do you like your steak cooked?" I ask.

"Medium is good. Can I help with anything?"

"Nope, just keeping me company is enough," I tell her before moving to slide out of bed.

We both redress, and head out to the kitchen. I step out onto my balcony and fire up the grill.

"This is what I have to season the steaks with, will that work for you?" I ask her, holding up the steak seasoning I picked up at the commissary earlier.

"Looks good to me," she tells me, and I season up our steaks before taking the plate out to the grill.

"I took the liberty of opening a beer, hope you don't mind," she says when she follows me out onto the deck a minute later.

"Sorry, babe. I should have asked if you wanted something. My bad."

"You're fine, Peyton. I'm a big girl and can get myself something to drink. I don't expect you to do everything for me. Did you want one? I can grab it for you while you're manning the grill."

"Sure, thanks." I close the lid on the grill and then set a timer on my phone for when I need to flip them.

"Here you are," she says, half a minute later, as she hands me my own beer.

"Thanks." We clink the necks of our bottles together before I take a long pull on the beer. I can feel the coolness of the liquid as it slides down my throat.

"How was the drive? I forgot to ask when you first arrived."

Chuckling, she says, "It was fine. No major traffic issues, just the normal flow of people trying to get home and out of the city on a Friday night."

"That's good, and how was work today?"

"Great. I started the therapy with the little boy I assessed last week. He did so good today."

"That's awesome! How often will you see him?"

"Once a week for the foreseeable future. We do a reassessment after the ten-week mark to see how the child is progressing with the therapy. For some kids, music helps them process other things. Some get lost in the music. In my experience so far, the kids that benefit the most are usually on the autism spectrum. I've had some kids who are completely mute, and they use the music as a means of communication. It's really fascinating, and I love getting to work with each and every child that needs my help. I've thought a lot about leaving the songwriting behind me and opening a practice to focus fully on the therapy side of music, and I may still do that. Build up a nice cushion from the royalties on my songs, and then open a therapy clinic in a few years."

"Sounds fascinating. I'm sure you would rock at it. Would you stay in Nashville and do that, or do you foresee yourself ever wanting to move back home and be around your family?" I ask her, just as the timer on my phone goes off, signaling it's time to flip the steaks.

"Nashville has become home to me. Don't get me wrong, I love going home and seeing my family, but I don't see myself moving back anytime soon."

"Would you ever leave Nashville for somewhere else?" I ask, curious if our relationship was to move forward and I was to get re-stationed, what would happen.

"I wouldn't say never, but it wouldn't just be a quick decision. If I stick with songwriting, I can do that from almost anywhere. I'd just have to be willing to travel sometimes when necessary. As it is, I already have Skype writing sessions with clients when they're out on the road or when they don't want to come to Nashville to meet up. When Reese was in Indianapolis with Austin, we'd Skype her and work on songs. It's not the same as being in the same room together, but it works when needed."

"So, theoretically speaking, if this," I say, motioning between the two of us, "was to go somewhere and I was to get re-stationed, would you consider moving with me?"

"If we were serious, then I don't see why I wouldn't. If you got orders tomorrow, I'd like to say I would, but that's kinda fast, don't you think?"

"I agree it is, but do you believe that we all have a soulmate out there somewhere, and when we find them, everything just clicks into place? That, when our worlds collide, things just fit perfectly?"

"I guess so," she says, biting that lip once again.

"I'm the last guy on earth that thought he'd ever be talking about soulmates and forever with a woman, but look at me now. Meeting you a few weeks ago completely changed my world. You came in and flipped me upside down. All it took was one look at you and my heart was pounding harder in my chest. And it wasn't a physical attraction, not that I don't think you're drop-dead gorgeous, because I do. But I feel it to my soul , Stacey." I close the distance between us and take the beer from her hand. I place it on the railing of my balcony and then grab both of her hands in mine. "I can't even put into words what I feel with you, here," I tell her, tapping my chest.

"I'll agree with you that what we have is something special and different. Does that mean that we were destined to meet and be together? I have no freaking idea, but the idea of you not being in my life isn't something that I want to ever have to know."

"Is it too early for me to tell you that I love you? Because I do. I love you so fucking much. Being away from you this past week sucked so damn much. I had to stop myself every day from driving to your place after I got off work each night. I hated not having you in my bed each night, and in my arms."

"I hated it, too. And I love you, too, Peyton," she says and the words wash over me.

I capture her lips in a searing kiss, only breaking apart when the timer on my phone goes off again, signaling that it's time to take the steaks off the grill. If it wasn't for that damn timer, I would have completely forgotten about our food and taken her back to bed. After we both just expressed our love for each other for the first time, I'm so full of love for this woman, I don't know if I'm going to be able to eat.

"Let's eat, then we can ravish each other again," she suggests as she breaks our connection.

"If you insist," I tease her, dropping a peck to her forehead before I step away and remove the food from the grill.

We head back inside, where we dish up, then take a seat at the small table in my kitchen. We eat quickly, just happy to be in each other's company again.

An hour or so later, we're lying together on my bed, sated from love making, and just enjoying the comfort of being back in each other's arms.

"Have you ever considered moving off base?" Stacey asks, breaking the silence that had fallen between the two of us.

"Not really, why?"

"Well, I was just thinking. Since neither of us really wants to be apart all the time, what if we got a place together, somewhere around halfway between here and Nashville? The lease on my condo is up soon. That would give us time to find a place, and give you time to give your notice or whatever it is that you have to do to move off base."

"I would absolutely move off base if that meant I got to come home to you every night. I'd just have to notify base housing that I'm moving and go through the normal checkout process. Then, I'd get a housing allowance to help me pay toward rent, utilities, et cetera."

"So, is that something we want to pursue, then? I'm required to give my landlord a sixty-day notice, so if we want to do this, I need to give my notice when I pay my rent at the beginning of the month."

"I'm all-in, babe. If this is something that you're ready to take the huge step toward doing, then let's do it."

"I'm all-in. I love you, Peyton," she says before she kisses me.