There is nothing quite like a woman who knows how to make a reunion worth the time apart. Whether it's been a few days...a few months...or even a year...a woman who can make every return special is one worth hanging on to.
I got lucky enough to find a woman like that. It had been almost three years since we had last seen each other. I had spent a year in Korea, six months in Colorado, and a year in Iraq. We were in training together in South Carolina. And even though we really didn't have much time together; we somehow stuck with each other, even over all the miles that separated us.
Everything started back up while I was on leave from Iraq. It was simple at first; friends talking back and forth over instant messenger. A few innocent phone calls here and there, nothing serious. But when I returned to Iraq...things started to change. Innuendos where passed, flirtatious behavior was in abundance...feelings developed. The distance started to drive us crazy. We started to miss each other so much. With everything going on in our lives...we found we were able to smile just by thinking of the other person, or looking at their picture. We were like school children.
We kept in touch the entire time I was in Iraq. Eventually she came to Kuwait, she took over for the unit that handled the theater in and out processing. Which meant I would get to see her just as I left theater; I couldn't wait. The day would not come soon enough in my eyes. I would be like a small child on Christmas Eve until the day arrived where I would get to see her again.
After nine long months of waiting...my unit was on its way to Kuwait. Back to Camp Buehring...back to the place where I would get to see the girl that I missed so much. I was so nervous I could puke. I wanted it to be perfect, no mistakes, no embarrassments; smooth as silk.
I sent her an email when we got the office setup in our make shift ops tent. I told her that I was in Camp Buehring and that I got off work at ten. She replied saying that she got off two hours prior and that she wanted me to meet her at the little shoppette by the tents we were staying in.
At ten O'clock, right after I got off work, I headed over to the shoppette where she said to meet her. I arrived there 5 minutes later and took a slow look around. I didn't see her in the small gathering of soldiers smoking and enjoying a late night meal. I decided to wait...maybe she was just running a little late.
I sparked a light and smoked the last cigarette in my pack. I figured I would give it until the end of the smoke before I headed back to the tent with a sense of defeat. About half way through the cigarette, there was a hand on my shoulder accompanied by a gentle of coo of,"How are you handsome?"
It was unmistakable...it was her. The soldier I had been waiting on for the last nine months. I smiled and took another drag off my cigarette. I replied with a sly," You're late kiddo..." as I slowly exhaled the smoke from the Camel I was smoking.
"I'm sorry. Had to shower up for you. I wanted to at least smell pretty for you since I can't really dress up for this."
"You didn't have to worry about that, I really don't care right now. I'm just glad that I get to see you. Though I will have to admit that I skipped out of work for about 30 minutes so that I could shower up myself."
She only replied with a cute little giggle. That's when I finally turned around. There she stood all 5'6" of her. Long blonde hair up in a bun under her patrol cap; her grey eyes burning through me like the sun; I was speechless.
"My god..."
"What?"
"You are more beautiful in person than I remember you being."
"No I'm not."
"No, you really are. It's amazing, I really am speechless."
"Well it wouldn't be the first time I've left you speechless."
"This is true. So where are we going princess?"
"I thought you would never ask. Follow me soldier."
As much as I was in awe, my legs did all the work. My mind was still stuck on how beautiful she was to me at that moment. In uniform in a poorly lit "courtyard" in the middle of the desert. No make-up, no civilian clothes...just her. Quite possibly the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I didn't even pay attention to where she was leading me to. I was too captivated by what I had seen only moments before.
After about ten minutes we came to a secluded area of the camp. The only thing around was an abandoned air raid bunker. We climbed to the top of the bunker and she pulled a blanket out of the assault pack that she had. I hadn't even noticed the bag...that is how enamored with her beauty I was at the time. It's a good thing that my life didn't depend on my attention to detail; because I would be dead.
She sat down on the blanket and patted the ground right next to her. I slowly walked over to her and sat down on the blanket. She leaned over and gave me a great big hug. She held on to me like she would never see me again.
"I've missed you so much. I really wish you knew. I think of you every day. Every time I go into work I hope to see one of your emails in my inbox. It brightens my day so much to even just read your words."
"I know what you mean. I actually get disappointed when you are too busy to reply. I just have to keep telling myself that you have a job to do; just like I do. I love reading your emails. I really have no Idea what you have done to me."
It was at that moment in time that I realized what time of the month it was. The lady of the night was high and shining bright, full as ever. Warmth ran through my blood stronger than any time before. I could feel the typical tingle in my mouth grow stronger than ever. My body began to put off an immense amount of heat from the inside out. It was like I was trying to heat the entire camp on my own. I didn't even notice the ridiculous humidity of the August heat.
I felt every part of me yearning for her. Wanting to have her close, our skin touching. I wanted to be so close that I could feel her heart beat in every inch of her body; feel her skin breath against mine. The moisture of her perspiration running down my skin...it took every ounce of strength that I possessed not to take her right there on top of the bunker. I had to remember that we could still get caught...and being as we were not married...it would mean a lot of trouble for the both of us.
She looked at me with a faint glimpse of worry in her eyes. She could feel the heat and energy pouring off of my body. The look of want in my eyes grew stronger with each passing second.