Welcome Home Ch. 01

It was a beautiful, warm mid-September day. Carli was happily off from work keeping busy around the house. The day was hers and hers alone. Her husband was at work, her daughter was at school. Her country playlist was blasting on the stereo when she heard her black lab, Jacoby barking furiously at the gate. Curious to see who was out there, she peeked out her kitchen window. A familiar green Jeep was parked in her driveway. Her heart started hammering in her chest. CJ was home from boot camp!

She hadn't seen him in almost four months. They had stayed in touch by letter, bantering and flirting like they did when he was home. Their letters were written cryptically, with numbers and inside jokes only they understood. They had secretly been in love for over a year, both married to others, but still unable to break the hold they had on each other. Even being apart for so long hadn't changed things. She was as much in love with him as she'd always been...maybe even more so.

Carli ran outside to quiet the dog and let CJ into the yard. Her heart swelled at the sight of him. Their eyes locked as she watched him walk up the driveway. Any worries that she had had that he was going to be different after fourteen weeks of boot camp were erased when he smiled at her. He walked proudly, in his fatigues and black beret. He was tan and had lost at least twenty pounds since she had last seen him. He looked amazing. She let him in, trying her very best not to come completely unhinged.

"Welcome home, Corporal." she said quietly, her eyes filling with happy tears.

"Thank you. It's good to be back." he said, smiling.

"Permission to hug within an inch of your life, sir?" she asked, smiling right back.

CJ opened his arms wide. "Permission granted!"

She threw herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He embraced her, burrowing his face in her hair. They stood like that, not speaking. No words were needed. She broke the hug, tears freely falling now.

"Come on, let's go inside before my nosy neighbors wonder why I'm hugging a handsome soldier!" she laughed through her tears. She saw a faint blush creep up on his cheeks at the compliment.

They stepped into her kitchen and faced each other. He gently wiped her tears away with this thumbs. He stood there at attention, smiling down at her.

"At ease. You're in my house now!" she said laughing, running the back of her hand down his jawline. His head dropped and he noticeably relaxed. His eyes were glowing when he smiled down at her.

"So, didya miss me much?" he asked her playfully.

"You? Oh please. I never even knew you were gone!" Carli said, giving him a gentle shove, grinning.

He followed her into the living room. Putting his hand on her arm, he turned her to face him.

"You're a lousy liar, you know that, right?" he said, raising her chin so she was looking into his eyes.

Carli looked away, completely flustered.

"Look at me Carli." She looked up at him, blushing deeply. His eyes penetrated hers.

"Why are you blushing? What's up?" he asked.

"I'm...confused. You're back. You're the same, but you're different. I can't put my finger on it. What happened to you while you were gone?" she cocked her head, looking at him questioningly.

"Boot camp opened my eyes, made me take stock in my life. We have to make the best of the time we have." he said.

"But..." she said in vain.

He looked down at her. "Do you still love me Carli?"

She nodded.

"I'm sorry Carli, I couldn't hear you. Do you still love me?" he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Yes." she whispered.

"Yes what?" he asked.

Carli saw where he was going. She stood taller, staring directly into his green eyes.

"Yes sir." she said confidently.

CJ walked around her. He placed his hands on her hips, pressing himself against her. He nuzzled her ear with his nose.

"Do you still want me?" His husky whisper made the hair on her arms stand up.

"Yes sir." she replied in a shaky voice.

He lifted her hair, placing a gentle kiss at the base of her neck. She inhaled sharply at the softness of his kiss. He slowly walked around to face her again.

"Take your shirt off." he commanded. She stared straight ahead, not moving.

"What if I say no, sir?" she questioned, a hint of defiance in her voice.

"Then you'll have to drop and give me twenty." he said, smirking.

Carli stepped closer to him.

"And that would be punishment for who sir?"

She slowly began to unbutton his fatigues, her fingers brushing his chest. He took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. His eyes were fixed straight ahead.

She pushed his shirt off, letting it drop to the floor. She stepped back, checking him out, now in just his t-shirt and pants. He was still big, but he was rock hard. She couldn't get over he was the same guy who had left four months previously.

"I'm not taking my shirt off sir." She stood as straight and tall as he was, meeting his gaze directly.

"Then drop and give me twenty." he said, eyes blazing. He still had complete control.

Carli got right in his face as she unbuckled his belt.

"You sir may be 'Army strong', but you've never dealt with someone like me." she hissed.

She popped the button on his pants. Running her hands down his muscular chest, then over his tight stomach, she "accidentally" brushed her hand across the bulge in his pants. He sucked his breath in slightly, but still showed no signs of breaking.

Carli slowly pulled his t-shirt off, running her fingers up his sides as she did. She dropped to her knees, unzipping him at the same time. She pulled he pants down over his hips to his ankles. She untied his boots, allowing him to take them off and step out of his pants.

CJ's cock was straining to be set free, but Carli took her sweet time. She ran her hands over his calves and up the back of his thighs. She gave his taut ass a gentle squeeze, gauging his reaction. His eyes were still locked, but he was breathing much harder.

She pulled his boxer briefs down and off, casting them to the side. CJ was standing stark naked in her living room. Cali stood toe to toe with him, smirking.

"How is it sir you have no clothes on and I do?"

She lightly flicked his right nipple with the tip of her tongue. His eyes flickered slightly. She had him right where she wanted him.

"You think you're so tough. Months ago, you told me you had no weaknesses. That's a lie." she said. His eyebrows raised slightly.

Carli got right in his face, nose to nose. "You have one."

"Which is?" he said softly.

"Me." she whispered in his ear, nipping his earlobe.

"You've wanted to fuck me for months, haven't you?" she growled. His breath quickened, but he didn't answer.

"I asked you a question, sir!" she barked. "You want to fuck me, don't you?"

"Yes ma'am." he said through gritted teeth.

She walked behind him, running her hands down his back, cupping his ass cheeks. She bent down until she was eye level with his waist. She ran her tongue up his spine to the base of his neck. His body quivered at her touch.

"Listen to what's playing on my iPod." she whispered, facing him. His eyes softened and he smiled slightly.

"When we're apart, you're in my heart, 'cause our souls are connected." she sang to him quietly.

"And when the distance between us grows, everybody knows, we're not affected." he sang back in a whisper.

Carli took his hand. "Follow me." She led him down the hall to her bedroom.