Home Goes The Warrior by Jeff Noonan Read Free Book Online Page B

holding the ship’s plaque and now he handed it to Lee. Their eyes met, and Neilsen shook his head admiringly. “Lee, you’ll never understand the extent of your influence on those men. You’ve got a rare gift. You have theability to talk to anyone at their level without either them or you feeling any inhibitions. That doesn’t come around often, and today you saw a little of what that gift can bring you. Don’t let it fade.” He smiled again and reached over to shake Lee’s hand. This had been an unprecedented occasion, and they both knew it.
    The ship’s officers streamed into the wardroom, all voicing their surprise and appreciation for what they had just seen. Lee gathered himself and said his goodbyes. His bags were already in his car out on the pier. It was normal that a departing officer would leave directly from the ceremony, but he had needed the time to clear his head, so he had stopped in the wardroom. Now he was recovered, so he headed for the quarterdeck. He saluted the OOD and requested permission to leave as was normal. The OOD returned his salute. At the same time, on the ship’s announcing system, a boatswain’s mate blew his bosun’s pipe and announced, “Lieutenant Raines, departing”. This was an honor normally reserved for flag officers, not lieutenants.
    Lee looked at the OOD and said, “I’m gonna get the hell off here before these guys talk me into staying.” With a smile on his face that hid the turmoil he felt inside, he left the ship.
    Maggie was waiting in her BOQ room when Lee arrived. The BOQ area was alive with people, so, after a warm greeting and some heartfelt kisses, they decided to not waste any time there. Both of them were anxious to start their adventure, and they had Maggie’s bags in the car within minutes.
    That evening they didn’t get far. Neither of them was ready for a long car ride. They just wanted to be together. Maggie had done her homework and found a nice motel not too far from San Diego. They stopped there.
    As soon as they were in the room, she moved easily into his arms. Lee kissed her softly on the lips and then, lowering his head, placed another kiss in the hollow between her neck and shoulder. He whispered in her ear, “Maggie, I have never missed you so much.”
    “I know, me too! It seems like every separation is harder than the last one.” Then her voice trailed off as his kisses again moved to her face. His right hand started softly caressing her temples, smoothing herhair back from her face. She loved this, arching her back and pressing against his hand with her head in appreciation. As she did this, her hips ground into his, and a small groan escaped from him.
    She pulled back a bit, looking up at him. “Hold up, big guy. I bought some special clothes for tonight, and you aren’t going to see them if we keep going.”
    He smiled. “Don’t worry, lady. I’ll see ‘em tomorrow night. They’d just get ruined if you put them on now.”
    “You might be right.” She moved closer and kissed him long and hard.
    He picked her up and moved across the room to the bed. For a brief moment, he looked around and realized that Maggie had picked the motel with care. The room was beautiful. But all of that awareness left him quickly.
    He tenderly lowered Maggie onto the bed and lay down beside her. His mouth brushed hers in a soft, teasing, kiss as his tongue came out to caress the very outside of her lips, lips that parted ever so slightly at the touch. It was her turn to moan softly. Lee turned his attention to the buttons of her blouse, which seemed to magically come free at his touch. Soon his free hand was cupping her breast and she was unbuttoning his shirt. Then, as if by a prearranged signal, they rolled away from each other and began frantically undressing. It only took a moment before all of their clothes were intertwined in a pile on the floor.
    Lee flipped the covers back, and the two bodies found one another under them. This time, his