Unsevered Read Online Free PDF Page A

fingers that were torturing my ribs. “No, stop! I hate to be tickled!”
    “Ooohhh, let’s find out if I can make you pee your pants,” he teased, and continued to find other reactive areas.
    Finally, I made my counterattack and managed to grab the bulging stones between his legs. I squeezed until the power in his fingers diminished and he surrendered. 
    “Ha, looks like I’m not the only ticklish one.” I threw him a victorious smile, released his genitals, and fell onto my back.
    He gently rolled on top of me and stared into my blue eyes. His soft fingers brushed through strands of my hair. “I love you, Jewel. I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to get to wake up to you every day for the rest of my life. Thank you for marrying me and making me the happiest man alive.”
    “I love you too, Harley. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’m proud to be your wife.”
    We locked lips, barely allowing a breath to escape. His hands began to wander and just as they reached my belly button, the phone rang.  
    Our passionate moment was replaced by silence as he answered it.
    “This is Harley.” He shooed me away from him and whispered “go away” with a smile. Then, “No, Sir. Not you, Sir.”
    My husband’s eyes adopted a gloomy appearance and he turned away to finish the conversation. I heard the words, “Yes sir, I will be there.” And then a click.
    Knots formed in my stomach and my breakfast threatened to reappear. I closed my eyes hard and the only sound I heard was the echo of my pounding pulse. I knew this time would come eventually, but didn’t expect it to happen so soon. No, no, no. It wasn’t fair. We’d just returned from our honeymoon, hadn’t even had our first fight as a married couple.
    He’d hung up the phone, almost in slow motion and sat on the bed without a word; his head hung low, his breath heavy. He turned to face me and took both of my shaking hands in his.
    “That was my commander. He said we pull out at 0600.”
    Tears pooled in his eyes. I’d never actually seen him cry and I wasn’t sure how I would react if I did. I was sure I wouldn’t be able to contain my own emotions, so I forced myself to play my part the same way I did when my parents told me they were divorcing. I shut down. My arms pulled away from his and I began to pack his things as I rambled.
    “So what all do you need to take? Will it be hot there?”
    I grabbed a few t-shirts and pairs of boxers. “How many pairs of socks do you think you’ll need?”
    I wanted to die inside with each piece I placed inside his duffle bag. My stride was broken for a moment as I paused to inhale the scent of one of his t-shirts. My body shuddered and tears streamed down my face. I wasn’t able to fake it as well with him.
    Harley wrapped both of his arms around my waist and placed soft kisses on the back of my neck.
    “Jewel, honey. Look at me.”
    I restored my brave face and turned around with my eyes trained on his—determined not to let him see my tears. His muscles bulged against my skin with tension and he embraced me as if he never wanted to let go.
    “It’s going to be okay. We can get through this.”
    “I know. I’ll be fine,” I said, lying so easily.
    Knowing that it might be quite some time before we would have the chance again, we finally rediscovered the mood and made love one last time. It was soft and sweet, the perfect way to say goodbye. Our bodies stayed pressed tight together for the rest of the night. I finally found rest, listening to the beat of his broken heart, because mine was playing the same tune.
    The break of dawn illuminated the path as I drove Harley to the base. His head leaned against the passenger window, his eyes fixed on nothing particular as signs and trees whizzed by. I could tell he was torn between staying with me and doing the right thing, even though there was no choice to be made.
    Almost in slow motion, we unloaded his things from the car and embraced,