Inflame

Chapter 8

Kale

9/4/12

Lucy,

So I know I said we’d be pen pals, but snail mail takes way too long and I can’t wait to tell you about this place. How about keyboard pals? Yeah, doesn’t have as much of a nice ring to it, but I figure daily interactions are better than reading letters every other week, right?

I hope everything’s going well back in Clarksville and that you’re not breaking any more hearts. You’ve done enough damage to mine, Freckles. ;) <-- Just imagine me doing that. It’s much sexier than some damn emoticon. But seriously, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. I know what you’re thinking. That it gives you free rein to do anything, but guess again. I don’t do men—so you shouldn’t either. Wait for me, Lucy Dawson. My poor little heart can’t take the thought of you finding another man while I’m gone. Okay, I know you’re rolling your eyes by now, so I’ll stop fucking around.

The flight over was pretty uneventful, and I’ve mostly settled in. I have a good team and I think we’ll work well together over the next nine months. Hopefully your nine months will be more exciting than mine. All I see in my future is work-gym-sleep-eat, wash, rinse, repeat. Good thing I have a pretty kickass keyboard pal to give me something to look forward to at the end of the day. You know that means I expect daily correspondence. I know you can get busy (I like when you get busy, Lucy) but I also know you have at least twenty minutes of free time when your kids are at recess. Didn’t anyone ever tell you you’re not supposed to sleep during school hours, Ms. Dawson? Take your time to write me instead. I’d hate for you to end up in detention.

On second thought, go for it, babe. The thought of you needing a punishment is a hot one, as long as I’m the one delivering.

And now I’m off to the showers with thoughts of that damn pastry cutter rolling over your skin. I’m still pissed as hell we didn’t get to try the new one out. Such a damn tease. You better have it shined, polished, and ready for me when I get home. Oh, by the way, Luce? Those fucking pictures? Best fucking gift ever. My dick thanks you.

Miss you, babe. If you see Lily, give her a hug from me.

Your sexy keyboard pal,

Kale

I click send and immediately pull up the photos Lucy sent me. That fucking girl. Saying goodbye to her was harder than I’d expected it to be, and when I saw her tears, my heart fell. I don’t know what the hell happened between Lucy and me this past summer, but I can tell you this. I was definitely beginning to feel like Justin Timberlake, not quite satisfied with being just friends, yet there was no way I was putting my heart out there. We had both laid it on the line when we first started hooking up, and in the meantime, I gained a best friend. I wasn’t going to fuck that up my expressing my feelings, and well, here I am. Thousands of miles away, pining ridiculously for my best friend, my favorite hook-up, probably the one girl I could settle down with who’d accept all my shit.

A moment later, my computer pings, and I grin when I see that I have a Skype chat invitation. The subject line states Ms. Lucy Dawson Requests Your Presence: Clothing Optional, and I’m all too eager to hit the accept button. Immediately, her image fills the screen, and my heart and dick both swell at the sight of her.

She waves, and I don’t miss the way her breasts are hanging out of the tank top she’s wearing as she bends over to look at the screen. Her green eyes are bright as she look as me too, and I’m glad I changed out of my uniform once I got back in the door and dressed in nothing but a pair of black basketball shorts.

“Hey, babe,” she says, her voice sounding through my computer, and I smile at the term of endearment we somehow adopted over the summer. The sound of her voice does something to me, and as ridiculous as it is, I think I miss her even more than I imagined possible.

“Hi, Ms. Dawson. I hope I’m pleasing you by responding to your request,” I tell her, winking in the process.

She giggles, and I love it. God, what the hell has this girl done to me?

“I’m very pleased, Sergeant Montgomery, especially since you decided to show up shirtless. I saw your email but wanted to see if I could catch you, and I’m glad I did.”

Settling in my desk chair, I turn the volume up, more than happy to see her. “I’m glad you caught me, too. I miss you, Luce. Things going okay there?” I ask.

She nods and gives me a thousand-watt smile. “Things are fine. A little quiet and lonely, but I’ll make do. What about you? How are things there? Making all the women on post fall in love with you?”

I shake my head, knowing that I haven’t seen a single female who could compare to her. “None at all, Lucy. Hey, I don’t have much time. Do a soldier a favor and get naked for me. I need something to think of when I’m jacking off in the shower later. My poor dick got way too used to your pussy, and he’s missing the fuck out of you.”

I watch as she throws her head back and laughs. “You certainly don’t hold back, but okay, Kale. I can make haste just for you,” she tells me as she takes her top off, filling the screen with her naked breasts, making me salivate at the sight. She brings her hands up and rubs both of her breasts. “Is this what you want to see, Kale? I wish these were your hands touching me, teasing my nipples,” she breathes, and my dick instantly goes hard as I slip a hand into my shorts.

“God dammit, Lucy, that is so fucking hot. My dick misses the shit out of you,” I repeat, needing to say it again for emphasis. “I wish I were on top of you, sliding in between your gorgeous breasts, feeling the friction of my skin on yours.”

A slight blush creeps over her face, but it doesn’t stop her. “Mmm, Kale, what I wouldn’t give to have you between my legs right now.”

I watch as she fondles herself, and I start to jack off, wishing my hand were hers. My eyes are locked in on her, captivated by her every movement. She scoots her chair back so I can see all of her, and I go crazy the moment I see that she’s in nothing but a lacy thong. Her hand dips down into her panties, and my mind runs wild, wishing those were my fingers playing with her clit.

“Kale, I miss you so fucking much. I need you. Now,” she breathes, and I watch as she continues to rub herself.

I’m about to respond when I hear my door open, and Xavier walks in. Jerking my hand out of my shorts, I sit and turn towards him. His eyes are wide, and he’s staring at my screen. At Lucy. I’m about to see fucking red, so I slam the screen shut.

“Dude, my bad. I’ll…I’ll be back in a few,” he tells me, leaving the room, and I want to punch something. After having been held up, he’s finally on his way back to the States and we were supposed to meet up for dinner, but obviously I was preoccupied.

Catching my breath, I make sure I’m alone before reopening my screen. When I do, I see that Lucy’s dressed, and clearly, the moment’s been ruined.

She raises an eyebrow at me. “So much for privacy. I hope he didn’t get too much of a show,” she says, laughing it off.

“He saw nothing, I promise. I guess I’ll have to be more careful with these Skype dates. I’m going to go shower, babe. Thanks for the visuals. Miss you,” I tell her, meaning it more than ever.

She sighs. “Miss you, too, Kale. I miss you, too.

Lucy

9/15/12

Kale,

Freckles? Who are you? James ‘Sawyer’ Ford? I should’ve known he’s who you’d latch on to when we binge watched Lost before you left. Lucky for you I was always Team Sawyer over Team Jack. Must’ve been those sexy dimples and playboy personality that drew me to him—and to you.

So let me get this straight? You expect me to be celibate the whole time you’re gone? Damn, that’s asking a lot. Oh, Kale Montgomery, I’ll wait for you every single day until I’m in your arms again at the airport. I won’t even so much as look at another man. I’ll keep your picture next to my heart every single day. It’ll be the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I see when I go to bed. Your picture will be the only thing to get me through these long, lonely nine months.

Have I successfully helped reciprocate the eye roll? Because you definitely knew what reaction to expect. The day, you, Kale Montgomery, ask a woman to wait for you is the day I settle down for good. We both know how far off that is.

Anyways, I’m glad to hear the flight was fine and that you’re settling in. I’ve gotta say, I’m bored as hell without you around. It’s good that school’s started again because the way you monopolized my summer. My empty house is feeling way too empty. My days are like yours. Work, exercise, T.V. It’s really thrilling stuff.

Daily correspondence? Jesus, Montgomery, I didn’t realize your demanding attitude extended beyond the bedroom, and lucky for you, I think I like it. So, okay, Kale, you want daily correspondence? You’ve got it. Just be prepared to give in to my own demands in the future.

Alright keyboard pal (aka KP) I’ve gotta run. Lily and Anna both say their helloes and their I miss yous. Charlie mentioned you being gone, and I think she was fishing but I kept my mouth shut. I never realized how nosy she was until she found out I was with you. And since I shrugged it off, she’s now forcing me on a double date this weekend. Gag. I need my better half back to save me from these things. I miss your face! Muah!

Lucy

P.S. Please tell me that wasn’t Lily’s father who walked in on our naughty Skype session. Also, please pass on that he’s an asshole and I had to use my own personal Kale to finish off. Best. Present. Ever.

Kale’s been gone for over a month, but it feels like forever. Fortunately, school has started, and getting acquainted with my new kids has left me exhausted at the end of the day. I barely make it through my Zumba videos and lesson plans before I’m falling asleep on the couch with the television playing in the background. When Charlie informed me that I was going on a double date with her and Drew, I tried to use my exhaustion as an excuse, but she wasn’t buying it. I think she’s noticed that I’ve been moping around, and she is just trying to be helpful. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s put two and two together, my mood change and Kale’s departure, but she hasn’t said a word about it. Instead, she’s making me go out with yet another one of Drew’s colleagues who will probably bore the life out of me.

The doorbell rings, and I sigh, wishing I’d insisted on driving myself. Checking my reflection in the hallway mirror, I make sure that I’m presentable. With it being a Friday night, I didn’t bother going all crazy with my appearance. My hair’s still in a claw clip, loose tendrils hanging down the sides of my face. It’s my go-to teacher hairstyle because it’s so damn easy to do in the mornings.

When I open the door, I’m surprised at the sight before me. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this guy. Charlie didn’t tell me she was setting me up with Alexander Skarsgård’s hotter twin brother. I have a thing for comparing all guys to hot movie stars, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Shamelessly, I check him out, and I involuntarily lick my lower lip when my eyes rake over his body. He’s wearing charcoal dress slacks that fit him perfectly. A matching charcoal button-up covers his torso, and the sleeves are rolled up, exposing his muscular forearms. It’s possible he was wearing a tie earlier, but now the neck of his shirt is unbuttoned, making the look a little more casual. His blond hair is perfectly styled, and when he smiles, a full set of dazzling white teeth greet me. I watch as his brown eyes roam over me, and I can tell that what he sees is acceptable. With a huge grin, he holds out his hand.

“Aidan Van Buren, and I assume you’re Lucy. It’s a pleasure,” he offers. Jesus, even his name’s hot.

I place my hand in his, and butterflies swarm in my stomach when he gives me a firm handshake. “You’re an astute one. Thank goodness you remembered the name of the girl whose apartment you just showed up at.” I cringe at my brashness, but he smiles, not fazed by it in the least bit.

“I guess I deserve that. I could’ve been a little more suave with that introduction. It’s nice to meet you, Lucy. I imagine you’ll be keeping me on my toes,” he tells me, and I know he’s right.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Aidan,” I respond before I grab my purse and lock up my apartment. I’m not ready to invite him into my place, even if he is Greek-god-like in stature.

We make small talk as we head toward the parking lot, and he opens the car door for me. When he climbs in, I get a hint of his cologne. It’s manly, sexy, and I want to breathe him in deep.

“So, Lucy, I’m kind of bad on these blind dates. I haven’t been in the dating pool lately, and Drew decided I need to hop back in. I wasn’t exactly pleased when he told me I was picking you up, but now that we’re here, I think this might end up being a much better night than I anticipated.”

Knowing that he didn’t sign up for this makes me feel better about the whole thing, but I still wonder why a guy who is as delicious as he is needs a blind date. Then again, he could be thinking the same about me, so I try to reserve judgment.

“Aidan, trust me. I understand more than most. Charlie’s always trying to set me up and it never works out. I abhor blind dates. I really do. But something about tonight seems like it’ll be okay,” I tell him, giving him a playful smile. He takes my hand, intertwining our fingers, and brings my hand up to press a soft kiss against it.

“I think you’re right, Lucy,” is his response before he settles back in and drives us to the restaurant where the double date will take place.

WHEN I found out that Aidan was Drew’s cousin, I wasn’t even pissed at Charlie. In fact, I wanted to ask why she’d been hiding him for so long. Our double date went off without a hitch, and I was more than eager to see him again. He was charming, sophisticated, and sinfully sexy. I was hoping he’d ask to come in after our first date, but instead, he gave me a searing kiss and then pulled away, promising to see me again soon.

That was four months ago. We’ve been seeing each other weekly since then but haven’t made anything official. Kale still emails me daily, flirting like crazy, and I respond like I always would. It feels strange. My growing feelings for Aidan are real, but at the end of the day, I’m refreshing my inbox seeing if I have anything new from Kale. I know I need to stop, to realize that we’re friends and that’s all we’ll ever be, but some part of me foolishly thinks we could be more.

After hitting refresh one last time, I close my laptop and set it on my nightstand. Turning over, I smile, seeing Aidan in my bed. He’s playing with his phone, but he sets it aside when I snuggle up against his chest.

“All done with your pen pal?” he asks, trying to sound playful, but I can hear the disdain in his voice.

My nightly emails to Kale have been an issue between us, even though I’ve tried to explain it a million times. One of my best friends is in a war zone, and if I want to email him, I’m going to do it. I guess I can kind of understand Aidan’s issues with my signing on every night to see if I have a message from ‘some Army guy on the other side of the world’—his words, not mine. I think if he had any idea the kind of friendship Kale and I used to have, he would try to put a stop to it. Thank goodness Charlie never knew or I’d be screwed.

I cuddle up to him, hoping to change his mood. “Hey, come on. I’m here with you, in this bed, waiting for you to strip me bare.”

His eyes wander over my body and a lone finger traces over my breasts. “Is that enough, Lucy? I know I don’t have all of you, and for now, that’s okay. But eventually, I’ll want you all to myself.”