In the Place We Both Love

Chapter 2: My Commanding Officer-3

Suddenly, Instructor Bell told us to get our helmets. I grabbed mine and pulled it on listening for the click that signaled it locking into place. I watched William and the other instructors walk out of the room. He glanced back at me and mouthed, “Bye-bye” before the doors closed.

Now it was freaky to be standing on solid ground one minute and floating the next. There was nothing to hold onto and I started to panic.

“Crap,” I mumbled. I was falling forward and I couldn’t stop myself as there was nothing to grab on to.

“Calm down, Serena. Relax and don’t fight. You’ll get accustomed to it in a few moments.”

William’s voice came through my headset like a breath of air. I tried to calm myself and soon it became easier to move my body around. It was actually kind of fun.

“This is great,” Jenny’s voice blasted in my ears. “It’s cool not to have your own weight for a while. “

I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm. She pulled me by the leg and flipped me over. I wound up spinning around a couple of times before I figured out how to control my movements,

“The room will slowly fill with oxygen again so you will know what it feels like for gravity to return. Once you can stand on the floor on your own, you will be able to remove your helmets.”

And as sure as Instructor Bell said, I could feel something pulling me down. My feet touched the ground and I took a second to regain my footing before I took off my helmet. The doors opened and we filed out.

William moved up behind me. “So? What did you think?”

I grinned, brushing my hair back. “As much as I enjoy floating, it’s good to be on solid ground.”

“Oh yeah,” he said in agreement.

Once again, I was swallowed up in his eyes. He looked as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. I longed to touch him, kiss him. Hold him. To see something other than loneliness in his eyes.

But I couldn’t do that here. Not in front of everybody. And he knew it as well as I.

He looked as if he wanted to say something. He thought for a moment then said,” Go take off that flight suit. We’re done for today.”

“Aye, sir,” I said, saluting him. He returned it.

How could someone so gorgeous be so untouchable?

______

I moped around my place, making dinner. I was tired. After the weightless training exercise, I went to the gym at the center and worked out. I had to stay in shape. I knew that once I became an astronaut, keeping myself fit would be super important. I didn’t want to have to haul extra weight around on the shuttle. I’d be moving around a lot more then too. Right now, I was doing a lot of sitting around. So I was real stubborn about my workout time. But after a day like today with training and lectures, I needed the workout. Now I was ready to sit still for a while.

I had just curled up on the couch with my blanket and a bowl of popcorn to watch a movie, when there was a knock at the door. I sighed and got up to see who it was. Probably Jenny.

To my surprise (and delight) it was William. I suddenly felt self conscious in my sweats and t-shirt.

“Colonel. What, I mean, how did you know where I live?”

A slight flush crept along his cheeks. “I looked you up in the database.”

Oh yeah. I forgot about that.

He started to back away. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to see you. I should have asked you earlier. I just-”

”Yeah, I know. It’s kind of hard when everyone’s around.”

He nodded. Then a devilish gleam appeared in his eyes. “It’s always hard when you’re around.”

I burst out laughing even though my face was burning. “Always glad to help.” I moved aside to let him pass. “Come on in.” I closed the door and turned to him. The room suddenly seemed smaller with him inside so close to me. “Here, let me take your coat. Make yourself at home.”

William held out a single rose. “For you.”

“How pretty.” I inhaled the rich fragrance and held it up so he could smell it too. “Let me put it in some water. Thank you.”

He followed me into the kitchen, leaning on the counter. “You’re not mad that I showed up without calling first? I know I should have, you know, called or something. But-”

”No, no. Believe me, if I didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t have made it past the front porch.” I peeked at him over the open door of the fridge. “Want anything? Beer? Milk? Water?”

“Beer,” he answered.

“Okay.” I popped the lid off and handed it to him. Our fingers brushed and that familiar heat sparked between us. “I- uh, I was just about to watch a movie. Come on, sit with me. Or, or we could talk or something.” I shrugged, picking up my beer. Or we could go to bed, I thought. I looked at him over my shoulder. He certainly did a lot for those jeans and the white button down shirt showed off his tan. He’d left it untucked from his pants, but it didn’t look sloppy on him. Instead it looked sexy as hell.

I picked up my blanket to make room for him on the couch. He settled next to me, trying to get his long legs under the coffee table. I couldn’t help but snicker at him.

“I can move that,” I said, pushing it out of the way. “I bet you don’t have that problem in the shuttle.”

He swallowed the beer before saying, “I make it fit.”

“Hmm. I bet.” I reached over to turn off the lamp. “I like to watch movies in the dark. It’s almost as good as being at the theater. Except I’m usually alone.” I paused. “Do you mind? We can leave it on if you want.”

“No. I don’t mind. It is almost like the movies.” He gestured at the table. “We got popcorn, comfy seat, drinks.” He looked over at me. “Pretty lady.”

“Handsome guy,” I answered softly.

William nodded. “This time, you don’t have to watch the movie alone.” He slung his arm along the top of the sofa, a silent invitation to sit next to him. So I did and he put his arm around my shoulders. I rather liked the feel of his warm hard body so close to mine. And he smelled good too, like shampoo, soap and man, with just a hint of cologne. I took a deep breath, inhaling his scent deep into my lungs. His body brushed mine with every breath. I felt myself getting aroused at his nearness. My hand rested on his thigh and he shifted his hips, moving closer to me.

“Share you blanket with me?” he murmured, rubbing my shoulder.

“Cold, Colonel?” I teased him.

“On the contrary. Actually, I’m burning up.”

“Well, that makes two of us,” I quipped. I unfurled the blanket and covered both of us with it. “Better? Are you comfortable?”

“Not quite.” He shifted and stretched one leg out on the couch and pulled me against him, my back to his front. I settled back against his chest and pulled the blanket over both of us.

“How’s that?” I whispered.

“Wonderful.” William reached over and pulled the popcorn bowl into my lap. Together, we held it in our hands.

“Popcorn?” I asked, offering him the bowl.

“Give me some,” he coaxed softly.

I know he had to have felt the shiver go through me. Dipping my fingers into the bowl, I raised a few kernels to his lips. He took it from my fingers and I gasped as his tongue brushed my fingertip.

In return, he offered me a bite of popcorn. There was something intimate about eating popcorn from his hand. This combined with the memories of our kisses earlier and him being so close to me this way was turning me on.

I set the bowl aside. Right then, I didn’t want any damn popcorn. I wanted some of William Shepard. I know it was silly, and probably a big mistake. And definitely wrong. But to hell with reason. My body didn’t care about rules, protocol, NASA, or anything else except the touch of this man’s lips. I wanted to believe that he felt the same way, if the bulge in his jeans was any indication. The light from the TV sparkled in his eyes and made them glow. He stared at my lips and his parted ever so slightly. God knows I wanted him!

The movie was forgotten as he turned me to face him. Our lips met in a fiery kiss. William held me close, his hands settling around my back. Once again, his body was flush with mine and it fueled my desire to know he was this close.

We kissed over and over until we were both breathing hard. I drew away first, burying my lips against his neck. I kissed my way to his ear, nibbling at the lobe.

“You taste so good,” I breathed into his ear.

“Serena,” he moaned softly.

Encouraged, I moved over his throat to the space where his shoulder met his collarbone. He gasped and jumped like I had burned him or something. But I didn’t stop there. I moved to the opening of his shirt. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted to feel his skin, hot and naked.

Gently, I slid one hand underneath his shirt and found warm skin and a well-muscled chest. I traced over each pec lightly with my fingers, glancing up at him. William’s head was thrown back against the arm of the sofa and he gulped in air like it was in short supply. It made me feel good to pleasure him. I raked my nails over his chest to his belly. He shivered and shifted his hips under me.

“Shall I continue, William?” I whispered.

“By all means. Whatever you want.”

Ever so slowly, I reached for the buttons on his shirt. His blue eyes were sleepy as he watched my fingers. Once I had his shirt open, I parted the fabric, exposing his gloriously tanned skin to my view.

“William,” I murmured. “You are- you are beautiful.”

His head moved from side to side. “No. I’m not.”

I ran my nails up and down his skin and again he moaned. “Who told you that?’ I demanded softly.

“Her.” The word came out strangled.

I leaned forward over him. “She lied to you, baby. You are beautiful. So very, very beautiful. I just want to touch you. Taste you.” I ran my hands along his sides and chest, feeling the muscles jump underneath my palms.

William mumbled something and cupped the back of my head, pulling me forward. I knew what he wanted and I gave it to him.

“Damn,” he groaned as my mouth explored his skin.

I smiled against his skin. “Yeah. I like it too.”

Straddling his thighs, I took a moment to look at him. Yes he was beautiful with his smooth tanned skin. His chest was lightly muscled, his belly flat yet ridged with muscle. He was hairless, except for underneath his arms and the small line that led from just under his navel to his groin. I pressed kisses along his belly, nipping gently at his skin. His belly sank in at the feather-light touch. It seemed my Colonel was ticklish.

I glanced up at him, our eyes meeting and holding. I tugged on the edge of the waistband of his jeans but didn’t unfasten them. William’s chest heaved as if he couldn’t get enough oxygen.

“Yes,” he whispered, pushing against the back of my head to guide my lips back to his skin.

“Yes what?” I asked innocently.

“Tease.”

I tossed my hair back. “I don’t understand. What do you want me to do to you, Colonel?”

William’s head fell back against the arm of the sofa, and he moaned again softly. “Touch me. I want to feel your hands and mouth on me.”

Maybe it was how weak his nearness made me, or that my hands were shaking, I’m not sure. But for the life of me, I couldn’t get his jeans unbuttoned.

“Help out a little, William,” I said softly.

He reached down with equally shaking hands and unbuttoned his jeans. As I watched, he slowly pushed them and the black boxer briefs he wore down enough to free himself of their tight confines.

Gently, I took him into my hand and stroked him. “Well gosh darn, Colonel. You’ve been carrying this around all this time? Not very nice of you to conceal such a weapon, is it?”