William had been away sixteen months, two weeks, four days and thirteen hours when he stepped off the plane in Fort Benning, Georgia and into his wife's waiting arms. Operation Desert Storm has taken a lot out of the Staff Sergeant during his time in the desert and he almost couldn't believe he was actually back on American soil.
Diana couldn't let go of him as they stood there, hugging, kissing and laughing through tears, their young daughter squealing and squirming as she was mashed between them, caught in their embrace. They made a happy picture as they held on to one another as if they were the only three people left in the world despite the chaos of the other families uniting around them.
Later that evening, after the celebration dinner, when all the families had retired to their respective hotel rooms, the baby was snuggled safely in the crib and they were finally alone, William sat in a chair near the window waiting for his lovely bride of seven years to emerge from her shower.
When she did so, she nearly took his breath away. She was a few pounds smaller than when he left, but even more beautiful than he remembered, although he always thought she was the most beautiful person on earth.
She stood there nervously watching him as he watched her. The short baby doll nightie she wore was that deep shade of pink that always looked so good on her, falling to about mid-thigh, low cut, with tiny bits of lace hugging her large, heavy breasts. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders, framing her bare, freckled face, pixie nose and bright glowing green eyes. William realized he wasn't breathing, and when he finally inhaled, it was a sharp, ragged breath that hurt his chest.
"Come here." Diana's lips curled into a smile as she crossed the room, her eyes locked to the shining blue of William's eyes. She was so happy to see him, so happy he was home, but her heart ached as she looked at him. He was so much thinner than he'd been when he left, and his face had changed. He looked as if he'd aged five years.
She urgently stepped between his legs, wrapping her arms around him, kissing him fervently. Nearly two years of fear, love, hurt, worry, need, want and desire was contained in that single kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight, and they nearly smothered one another before they finally came up for air, clinging to one another tightly.
"I've missed you," Diana whispered against his lips.
"You have no idea, baby girl. These have been the longest days of my life without you and the baby." He wiped away the tears that had suddenly slid down her cheeks, and then kissed her where the drops had been. In turn he kissed each eye, then her tiny, upturned nose before gently kissing her lips again.
"Stand back and let me see you." He gently pushed her away. She stepped back a bit and stood there, turning slowly as he moved one finger, instructing her to do so. It was all he could do not to literally ravage her where she stood. They had been good together in the years they had been married; their sexual appetites for one another matched perfectly. He had waited so long to have her naked before him again.
She had been very young when they married, and her teen-aged body had filled out into luscious womanly curves, but she still looked like the young girl he'd fallen in love with. He noticed the corner of her lower lip caught between her teeth and smiled slightly. She always did that when she was nervous. He imagined she wasn't quite sure what to make of the man who sat examining her now.
"Take off your gown, baby girl. I want to see all of you." He had dreamed of her body every night he'd been gone. He knew every line, curve and freckle, and wasn't in the least disappointed as the gown was lifted over her head and dropped to the floor in a silent whisper of silk next to her slender feet.
