my eyes and pushed the feelings I had deep down inside. When I stood up, she was about to do the same for me, but I turned the shower off. I saw the hurt move across her face and I hated myself but there was no way I could let her touch me like that. I would never let her do what all the other women have done to me. Thinking of Azurdee getting me off or giving me a blow job about turned my stomach. I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist as I took another towel and wrapped it around her. I was about to start drying her off when she smiled and quickly began drying herself off. I had to admit it hurt like hell, but I knew she was only doing what I had just done to her by not allowing her to take care of me. She yawned and I couldn’t help but smile. She was so damn beautiful and looked adorable trying to hide her yawn. I walked up to her and picked her up. “Come on mi amor , let’s get some sleep.” She settled her head into my chest and let out a small contented sigh. I knew she had to be exhausted, not to mention sore as shit. I walked up to my bed and gently set her down. I pulled the sheets back and watched as she dropped her towel and climbed into the bed. I followed her and as I lay down I pulled her close to me. I needed to feel her against me for some reason. I had a feeling our night was going to come to an end sooner than I wanted. I listened to her breathing settle out and knew the moment she had fallen into a deep sleep when her entire body relaxed into mine. I wasn’t sure how long I lay there taking in the fact that I had the most amazing and beautiful girl in my arms. And it had been the first time I’d slept in a bed with another girl since Nikki. As I drifted off to sleep, I began dreaming of Azurdee and me walking along a beach holding hands. We both turned and looked at each other and I was overcome with how much I was in love with her. I quickly sat up and tried to control my breathing. I looked over at Azurdee, who was fast asleep. I quickly pushed my dream aside. There was no way I was in love with her. None. I was about to lie back down when my phone went off. I reached for it and looked at Skip’s message. Skip: Heading to Venezuela. Get back to Austin ASAP, Lieutenant. I quickly typed back. Me: Leaving in twenty. I set my cell down and turned to look at my sleeping beauty. Mi amor. I couldn’t bear the thought of calling her sweetheart. That’s what I called the girls I hooked up with so I wouldn’t have to remember their names. I slowly got up and cursed myself for bringing her to my bed. I grabbed my bag and pushed everything into it as I slipped on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I grabbed my phone and put it in my pocket. I looked down at Azurdee and smiled. I dropped my bag and headed out of the room, but not before I went into her room and grabbed her sheets and carried them down to the laundry room. I quickly put them in the wash and started it as I made my way out back and over to the garden. I walked up to a rose bush and broke off a rose. I brought it up to my nose and took in a long deep smell. I wasn’t sure why red roses reminded me of Azurdee, but they did. I made my way back into the house and up to my room. I leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips. She barely smiled and whispered, “Lark.” I pulled away quickly and set the rose down on my pillow. I picked up the pen and pad of paper on the end table and wrote her out a note. I slipped it under the rose and looked at her one more time. A feeling I’d never experienced before washed over my body. My hands began shaking and I quickly turned and walked away as I pushed the feeling away and started thinking about what I had to do to get ready for the mission.
I slowly opened my eyes to see the bedroom was filled with daylight. I stretched and smiled as I felt muscles ache that I didn’t even know I had. I closed my eyes and thought back to last night. Lark had made love to