Later that evening, after a quick study session, Dalton and I went to the gym to do some light cardio. Alex texted and let me know that Sgt. Major Thomas just wanted him to sign some paperwork and possibly send him away for some radio seminar for a few days. I was able to relax once I found out why she was calling for him, but anxiety still sat inside of me as I realized now he was free to interrogate whomever he wanted about Allen. I had hoped that he would just let it be, but of course as soon as he told me, I’m letting that go like I’m letting you go. Get over it, I knew he was hell bent on finding out and destroying him. If I could keep him out of the specifics of what Allen had actually said to me that might placate him just a bit, and not turn him into a maniacal body crusher. Hearing his story over the weekend of what he did to the guy that hit his sister let me know that where the women he loved were concerned, he had no limits, no boundaries.

The next couple of days were filled with Alex’s inquisition. He was relentless, pulling students aside to try and find some dirt, but luckily no one besides Dalton really had anything, and he did much better at keeping quiet than I gave him credit for. Alex had asked him about everything and Dalton, being the smart friend that he was, simply told him that Allen was a loud mouth and because I ran mine too, Allen and I had gotten into a couple of arguments. When Alex pressed him further, he said he didn’t know anything else. Alex went even further, even underhandedly threatening Dalton, but my dear friend still gave nothing up. I could have kissed him when I found out. I thought for sure the rough exterior of Alex when he was pissed and on a mission would have broken Dalton, but it didn’t. He held his ground, even though he said he thought Alex was ready to snap his neck if he didn’t give him what he wanted. I could only laugh at that and thank him profusely. Dealing with Alex was definitely no easy task, but he did it, even if he didn’t agree with my reasoning.

Friday, Alex texted me and told me to be ready for a taxi at the Subway again around eighteen hundred because he wanted to spend time with me. He had been given temporary orders to travel to a joint forces base in Florida, so he’d be gone for the weekend, sitting in on a presentation for a new radio system that would be coming in. I hated the thought of it. He would be leaving first thing in the morning and wouldn’t be back until Tuesday.  Even though it was only a few days, every day that we had together was precious because there was a good chance that at the end of this course, we’d be split up, living on opposite coasts with different time zones and different training and deployment schedules. That thought sickened me even more, so I let it go and focused on enjoying my night with him.

I let Dalton know where I’d be, and he decided to go to Subway and have dinner with me, then take the taxi out in town and do a little shopping so that it didn’t look suspicious that I was leaving all by myself. He was always thinking where my mind was lacking. When I got to Alex’s house, Dalton told me to text him and let him know when I needed him to come back and get me. I hugged him and thanked him for everything, especially for incurring the wrath of Alex and still standing by me. He brushed it off and kissed my forehead as I got out and walked up the driveway.

Alex opened the door wearing nothing but a pair of PT shorts. My eyes immediately darted to his chest. His body was pure perfection, and at times I couldn’t believe that I had open ended access to it. He pulled me in, kissing me hard before whispering, “You’re wearing too much clothing.” He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, carrying me away to the living room where Natasha was straddling Riley on the couch. She looked up and smiled while trying to pull her shirt down.

“Hey, Cassie. Nice to see you again.”

“Hi,” I said, trying to free myself from Alex’s hold. I reached down and pinched his ass--even though I didn’t get much since it was hard like a plate of steel--and he finally let me go. “What are you two up to tonight?”

“I’m hoping Chris can make me scream all night long like Alex did to you the other night. We can have a contest.”

Alex laughed. “No one can do the shit I do, so you’ve already lost. And anyway, we aren’t staying. I’m leaving for the weekend, and I need my girl all to myself.”

“Well, sounds like you’re getting fucked somewhere else. Enjoy it, Cassie.”

I laughed. Natasha was a blunt chick who made no qualms about anything she had to say.

“Have a good night you two,” Riley called out. “I’ll finally get to use that island the way it’s intended to be used.”

I wanted to throw up in my mouth. Riley and Natasha naked, on top of the kitchen island? The thought made me never want to eat food up there again. Alex didn’t say anything: instead, he took my hand and walked us back to his room. He quickly removed his PT shorts, then put on a pair of jeans, foregoing the boxers or any sort of underwear. A slight grin crossed my lips as I thought about how easy he was making it on himself to get to me.

We left the house, not saying goodbye to Riley or Natasha since they were back in his bedroom, moans crashing through the walls as the headboard knocked loudly. I hoped that they would stay back there and leave the kitchen a clean place to eat, but Natasha seemed like a wild child.

Alex helped me into the truck, then went around to his side and hopped in. We backed out of the driveway and headed into the darkness with nothing but the moonlight and the twinkling stars casting light on the blackened streets. I sat in the middle, my head resting on Alex’s shoulder as he stroked my leg.

“Where are we going? No more surprise family visits.”

He looked over to me and smiled, the golden tint of his eyes gleaming.

“You mean you don’t want to meet my second cousins?”

“Not funny.”

He laughed again. “I don’t have any family out here. I just want you all to myself before I have to go days without looking at you.”

“What about curfew? If the fire watch checks and I’m not there, I’ll be reported to the duty.”

“You think I haven’t thought about all of that. Don’t worry about it. I took care of it.”

“What did you do?”

“I took care of it. That’s all that matters.”

He turned onto a road that led through the middle of Yucca Valley, leading us into even more desolate grounds. After driving another fifteen minutes, Alex pulled off the road and around the back of three oversized boulders that were decorated in painted love notes and graffiti. The sound of the crickets chirping was the only noise that could be heard, and the darkness of the night covered us in ultimate privacy, away from any potential passing cars.

“We’re here,” Alex said, turning off the ignition and turning up the radio. I looked into his eyes, passion and heat burning from them. “I’ve thought about bringing you here ever since I met you.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes.” He leaned over and kissed me. “Come on, I have something to show you.”

I followed him out of the truck, walking to the bed where he let down the tailgate and took my hand, helping me into the back. There were a couple of sleeping bags, pillows, and a bag of food.

“What the hell, Alex? Are we sleeping out here?”

“I wish, but I have to be at the airport at five in the morning, so I plan on getting as much time out here with you as possible.”

He hopped in and rolled out the sleeping bags, placing the pillows at the head of the bed. I sat listening to the music blaring through the truck speakers, feeling the urge to dance when Gorilla by Bruno Mars started playing. The sensual beat of the song started up, and I stood, leaving my hand on his head as I pushed him down. His eyes darkened behind the shield of his lowering eyelids while a coy smile stretched across his mouth. I slowly swiveled my hips, thrusting my pelvis at him. He reached out for me, but I swatted his hands away, laughing at his obvious torture.