Chapter 62

The afternoon turned into hours of erotic bliss. If she'd thought the nights they spent together were hot, they were nothing compared to this. Dix pulled out all the stops, introducing her to sensuous delights she'd only read about in books. She finally lay snuggled against Dix, every muscle like wet tissue paper, every area of her body sore but satisfied, wondering if she would ever again have sex as good as this.
Enjoy what you've got while you've got it.
She needed to keep telling herself that.
"How about a quick swim to cool off," Dix suggested. "Then I'll fix dinner. How does grilled chicken and corn on the cob sound?"
"Mouthwatering," she told him. "But I'm more than happy to cook. Really."
He rolled her on top of him and peppered a row of kisses along her jawline, ending with one on her nose.
"Nope. It's my turn. But you can make a salad to go with."
"Do you think we can go skinny dipping?" She gave him a mischievous grin. "I think I'm too beat to pull my bathing suit on."
"Only if you want to scandalize the neighbors." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "Let's go. I need that cool water."
Dix fired up the grill, lighting the coals and setting them to heat before they hit the water. They swam for about an hour, half the time floating lazily on their backs. Sunset wasn't for two hours yet, so they enjoyed watching the puffy clouds drift across the sky. They only climbed out of the lake because Peyton was sure she was shriveling up.
"Chicken," Dix teased.
"Hey, frogman," she teased right back. "I haven't learned to live in the water like you have. Besides, I'm hungry."
They ate dinner at the table by the front windows, occasionally looking out at the evening boat traffic on the lake. It occurred to Peyton as they finished eating that she'd been doing almost all the talking during the meal. Was something wrong? Was Dix suddenly regretting everything? Did he want to back off during the time they had left? She finally sucked it up and asked him about it.
"You've been very quiet during dinner," she pointed out. "Is something wrong? Is there anything I should know about?"
He stared at her for a long moment, something indefinable stirring in his eyes.
"Dix, it's okay," she assured him, even as her body tensed. "You can tell me whatever it is."
He swallowed the last of his coffee and set the mug down carefully. "I had a phone call while I was out jogging this morning. The mission is on again."
"Th-the mission?"
He nodded. "Our targets are headed to Afghanistan, to spend some time with a terrorist cell in the Hindu Kush. We have intel on when they'll be there, and the mission planning is already underway."
"Are you - " She swallowed. "Are you well enough to go?"
She saw every muscle in his face tighten. "I damn well better be. I have to report tomorrow for a physical, and that fucking doctor damn well better clear me."
"I'm sure he will. You've worked very hard to get back into shape." She hesitated. "How's the thigh? I haven't noticed you favoring it lately."
"Good. It's good. I'm all good."
She wondered who he was trying to convince, her or himself.
"What time do you have to leave tomorrow?"
"I want to be on the road by six o'clock. It's a good twelve-hour drive to the base at Little Creek, Virginia, and I'll need to stop a couple of times."
"Oh. Okay."
"And I want to get a good night's sleep. My commanding officer set my physical up for eight the following morning."
There didn't seem to be much to say after that. They cleared everything away, putting the kitchen to rights. Dix grabbed a beer for each of them from the fridge, and they sat out on the porch just sipping at them, not saying anything. Peyton sat close to Dix on the porch settee with his arm around her, his body close to hers. Neither of them said a word.
"Sleep with me tonight," Dix said. "Not sex, Peyton. I just want your body next to me."
"Of course." She could do this. She'd make sure he got a good night's sleep and a good sendoff in the morning.
She was shocked that they actually fell asleep, as tense as they were when they climbed into bed. Dix was taut as a rubber band, so she'd rubbed his shoulders and back and neck, kneading the hard muscles until she finally felt him relax into some layer of sleep. She herself barely closed her eyes, knowing what was ahead of him and hoping he wouldn't get himself killed.
Peyton rose with him at five thirty, even though he tried to get her to stay in bed. She insisted on toasting a bagel for him, and fixing him coffee. It seemed no time at all when he had his gear packed and his truck loaded and they stood in the kitchen, looking at each other.
"Here." She handed him her giant go-cup filled with coffee. "A souvenir from me."
"Won't you need it?"
"No. I'll get one in town before I leave." She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "Take care of yourself, Dix. And...." She paused. "If you would just have someone let me know when you get back that you're safe and sound and in one piece. Okay?"
He waited a heartbeat then pulled his cell from his pocket and handed it to her. "Program your number into it. I'll make sure you're contacted." He paused. "One way or another."
"You be safe," she said fiercely. "I demand it."
He laughed, that now familiar rusty sound. "Okay, then." He stared at her again for a long time. Then he cupped her face and kissed her, a deep, hungry kiss that stole her breath and reached way down into her heart. "You write that story, Peyton. I know it will be a good one."
"Let me have one picture?" she asked. "Is that against the rules?"
He gave her a lopsided smile. "I think I can handle that."
She used her cell to take a shot of him in jeans and T-shirt, fresh from his shower. She clicked three times, just to be sure she got a good one, then nodded.
"Thanks." She stared up at him. "Dix?"
"Yeah?"
"Believe in yourself. You can do this."
He nodded once then, giving her one more brief but hard kiss, he strode out of the cottage. He walked to his truck without looking back. She went outside and watched as he climbed in, cranked the ignition, and drove off without even a backward glance.
Thank you, Dix. You showed me what a relationship can really be like, even if we didn't have one. It gives me hope. I'll pray for you.
Then she walked back inside the cottage, threw herself down on the bed where they'd slept the night before, and curled herself around his pillow. And cried real, soul-searing tears, for the first time since she was a child.