phone “ “I don’t want to bother him. What room is he in? I’ll drop it off.” “He’s in the penthouse suite top floor room 22.” “Thank you.” I walked down the ramp and pressed both buttons to both elevators to the top floor. Standing beside a couple and their kid. Watching the lights from the right side come down to the left seemed to take infinity. It was like a race to see which one would reach the ground floor first. When the one on the right opened first it was packed so I waited for the one the left. Then my jaw dropped seeing Natalya walk out from the elevator. My mind seized putting it all together as I made the accent up. *** Claudia I woke abruptly to the sound of the fans spinning. The whirring and burring of the ventilation system the onslaught of the cold began to infuse into the room. I started to shiver and panic. When I huddled myself more with the clothing in preparation. I took out my phone and its light flickered in my face like a flame. I looked at the 2 bubbles of my messages that went with no response. I started to worry. I remembered something Will said to me once about how they try to break your spirit in the SAS the things he endured to become who he is today. He told me when embracing the pain he took his mind to a happy place while they beat him senseless in a room. I closed my eyes and listened to the rumbling ambient sound it brought back memories when Will took me on a boat cruise in the Auckland harbor. I typed another message. Juliet: Will do you remember the time we went on that boat cruise? Gosh, I would love that warmth of you holding me right now. I still remember everything you said that day. I still wondered why you were so edgy that day what is something I said? I loved sipping our wine while the sea breeze brushed against us. I know there are things in your head you keep to yourself. I enjoyed the time none the less especially when we had that dance up there. Oh and that kiss!!! Love you hun CC ***
William That kiss… I finished reading the message wanting so much to reply. I took a deep breath while the elevator went up. I remember the dancing on a summer afternoon on that boat. Just ourselves I held her hand. The softness and the warmth are what I felt as we waltzed on the surface. My edginess was me acclimatizing to happiness she brought me. When you’re straight off deployment you become accustomed to the warmth following a sense of uncertainty and fear. But I wasn’t in some blood soaked desert. I was on the boat with the woman love. I remember bringing her close to me. I still recall word for word the talk that led to that kiss. “Baby… the next deployment to Afghanistan is my last.” Her eyes shifted up glassy, shocked and surprised. “Really?” I nodded. “Yeah, it’s time. In the special air services, they talk about total obsession and commitment. I realized I couldn’t serve two masters.” I brushed aside a lock of her hair and I kissed her. “Only one.” Claudia wept and then laughed. “So I’m your master now?” “Always…” “I can’t wait you know. I think you have done your time.” I remember exhaling my shoulders dropping. “I felt like I was holding you back as a woman you know.’ “What do you mean?” “When I met you as pimply young 18-year-old…” “Shut up, I didn’t have pimples when I met you!” She pinched my arm. “I’m joking…Hun but seriously. You have waited on me ever since then, I put you through a lot of shit in the last ten years and you stuck by me. “I paused “I took you away your youth.” “I’m 28 Will I’m not that old!” “But you get where I’m coming from…” “Yeah, it will be different now with you around more. I’ll definitely be reading fewer books now. I have been cheating on you a lot with my romance book boyfriends.” I laughed “I’m afraid it means the sex won’t be as ravenous, and hungry, anymore.” She smirked then raised an