The Soldier Next Door

…Ana POV…

I don’t know what Ethan’s game is, but if he thinks his rude cocky behavior will affect me, he has another thing coming. He knows that he is being unreasonable, but being the stubborn soldier that he is, he will not be the first one to admit that he is wrong. And me being the strong-willed woman that I am, I shall not be the one that will be giving in either.

So this is foolishly leading me to agree to something that I would have never agreed to in the first place.

“Yes, I will join you for a drink, but you know this is going to grind Ethan?”

“Anything that pisses Hunter off gives me pleasure.”

“I was afraid you were going to say that.”

“Come one; there is a part of you that wants that?”

“Ok maybe a small part.”

And with that, I see MacKey smile what can even be wider than his face. This is about to go so many ways south, and I will be caught in the middle of it. But hey, a bit of fun for the boys on the eve of us being deployed. I just wish me and Ethan could have resolved our problems before then. As things stand, we are going into this alone; we were looking forward to doing it together.

With that thought in mind, I follow MacKey and his squad outside, where we all start to head towards the pub. I can see out the corner of my eye that it has caught Ethan’s attention, but by the blank look on his face, I am not sure what he is thinking, let alone feeling.

The walk to the pub is pretty joyful, but it is somewhat stressful for me, for I don’t know what will happen when these boys have had a few to drink. I might just become tonight’s trophy and, even worse, the reason for a fight. Something in the back of my head is telling me that I should rather have gone home.

As we step our way into the door, I am horrified to see MacKey take a seat only but one table apart from him and Ethan. If I ever doubted, now I know that nothing good is going to come out from tonight.

But I still try and plead with MacKey, which only falls onto death ears. Do these two really hate each other this much? In fact, why do they hate each other in the first place?

“So Robert, tell me why you two do not like each other? I mean, some friendly competition should not go this far?”

I do so wish that I kept my mouth shut, for what he says next is not what I suspected at all.

“Hunter stole my girl.”

I cannot help but burst out in laughter. Does Ethan Hunter steal someone’s girl? My god is so innocent and pure that I cannot even imagine him doing such a thing like that. But I have seen another Ethan these past few days; I might not dismiss it so easily.

But I am curious now; I know I should not pry, but this is a part of Ethan’s life I know nothing of.

“So was it a girl on base?”

“Yes, in fact, she was a nurse too.”

“I never knew that he had not told me of any woman before.”

“Maybe his ass felt bad for stealing her from me.”

“Why would he go as far as ‘steal’ someone from you. I mean, she was obviously not that important if she is not around anymore?”

“Oh, she was important to him.”

“What do you mean?”

“They were engaged.”

And those words there knocks me completely off my feet. Not once has Ethan told me about and definitely not that he was engaged before. I guess I do not know him after all, and maybe it is better if we stay apart.

With that memory stuck in my head, I do what one does when one wants to forget; I get drunk.

…Ethan POV…

That is the fourth tequila she has thrown back. Now I know that she can handle her alcohol, but she is not going to be able to walk at this rate. Something must have upset her, for I know she only drinks like that if she is mad. I will flatten MacKey’s face if he is the reason behind it.

But why do I care? She chose to sit with them; she could have at least gone and sat with someone like Ray. And to top it off, they had to come to sit so damn close, but not close enough for me to have heard what it is that has her so upset.

And of course, my fingers have their own problem for I take my phone and message her.

“Are you okay?”

I watch as she stares at her phone, not knowing if she should respond or not. But me being persistent, I message her again.

“I know you are upset; you only drink like that when you are upset.”

Then still nothing. And nothing and even more of nothing. I ignore the fact that this will even piss her off more and message her again.

“If you don’t want to message me, then at least talk to me.”

She still ignores me; she just stares at her phone, most probably deleting every single message she gets from me. But then I see her excuse herself and make her way to the ladies. I do not even hesitate and get up to follow her, trying not to let is look obvious, but I do not think that I succeed as a few faces smile at me as I pass them.

Once I step into the restroom, I close the door behind me and make sure to lock it. She spins on her heels and faces me.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“What are you doing, Ethan? This is the ladies, can’t you read?”

“I think watching you throw back all those tequilas has made me blind.”

“It is not your concern what I do. Please leave.”

“When it comes to men like Robert MacKey and you, then it is my concern.”

“Please just leave.”

I shake my head as I slowly step two steps towards her. She reacts by stepping two steps back. I move forward another length, and she slides back. As I close more of the distance between us, she steps back into the wall behind her. With her nowhere to go, I finally walk my hard chest up against her supple breasts.

“Ethan?”

“Ssshhh.”

“What are you doing?”

I do not answer but respond by pinning her body between my arms. Her breathing is hot and heavy as she tries to whisper my name.

“Ethan.”

With every breath, every wink, every inch, I move my lips closer to hers. I close that final gap between our hesitating lips. Hesitating, not truly, for I really want this with every craving bone in my body. And it is those cravings that make me place my lips gently against hers. This feels even better than before. Her lips are so damn soft; it feels like a thousand feathers are tickling my lips. Then ever so soft and sensual, I brush my lips against hers. I bite and nip and nibble, and she returns the pleasure with a low moan.

I slide my hands down her waist and rest them at the small of her back. She moves and arches into my body; I moan at the contact and the heat of our bodies so close against each other. My mouth moves away from her lips and runs slowly down her neck; I rub them gently over her collarbone and softly bite into the edge of her shoulders. I grind myself into her as I move my lips to her ear.

“Ana.”

I move back to her lips. She takes my face between her hands and scrunches her fingers in my hair. I go to tangle my fingers in her hair and pull her lips even closer to mine. This time when she moans, I am right behind her answering her with my very own growl. I can see her eyes are burning with lust and a deep hunger.

“Come home with me, boo.”

But then she knocks me completely out of left field.

“Who is Emily?