I live for the moment I hear that catch in her throat with our first kiss. Her breathing getting heavier with each tender touch, and caress of her sensitive places, I wait for those three words she will not say..., yet.
*****
Our Phone Calls Part 1
Except for my Reserve weekends, most of my Saturday morning routines consist of, first what ever needs to be done around the house. After that its been taking my truck to a do-it-yourself car wash, because this time of year, I don't want the winter road salt accumulating on it.
Once that's done, it's over to the base to check for paper work they may have left for me, then the gym to work out, after that, over to the NCO club for lunch, where it always gets around to talking revisionist history of our exploits in those many unfriendly places we've been sent to. But today I'll also be going to the college's branch library to check on a book they've located on the subject of that paper I'm currently doing. It'll help with filling in background information I can use in my military history class, but mostly in this paper due two weeks from this coming Wednesday.
Now, thankfully, home at last; amazing how just a little snow can tie up traffic. So, here I am at home because it's another cold, snowy Saturday night. Sitting in my den, reading the text on the computer screen of this paper I've been working on, which I needed to be doing anyway.
An because I've been concentrating on what I've been doing, or how much time has gone by with it until I sit back from the computer to give my eyes a break. When it's hearing whats being said on local weather report that gets me turning away from the computer to listen to the T.V. weather guy. Who of course, is predicting more crappy weather moving in over night and into next week. He hasn't said crappy, but that's what it is. So plans of seeing a friend tomorrow may get bagged for another weekend.
An being as late as it is maybe I shouldn't call Catherine tonight, looking at my cell phone laying next to my empty coffee cup. But still, it's a Saturday night, and it's not snowing in San Antonino, and who ever she's been meeting with may be showing her some of the local night spots.
An thinking back to when she gave me her personal cell phone number that Tuesday, and especially, after what happened with my kissing her like I did. Along with her trying to deny she was kissing me back; which I knew damn well she did! Then her telling me, I was dangerous, and trouble, left me feeling I would never hear from her again!
Of course surprising me when she did call, especially as late as it was when she got into Denver that Tuesday night, as I look at my watch, and realize there's an hour difference between here an San Antonino.
But then she was telling me about the delays due to diverts around weather fronts in route, then the screw up with the her rental car at the Denver airport. Where it seemed the only thing that went right was her hotel room. Our conversation lasting just long enough to cover those issues of her getting there. And ending with her telling me she would call me sometime the next day, which she did. So, maybe, she does like me, like she said, "You're a very nice guy and I like you lot." Raising my hopes with her telling me that.
But, what didn't get into the conversation, and which I wanted to avoid anyway, was what she said about me being,"dangerous and trouble," for her! But thinking about that later, it dawned on me, I knew what she was saying. There was..., something in that kiss! Where my better sense warned me to, just let that go for awhile, the ball in court for sure.
So for the next two weeks, she or I have called one another where our long talks were mostly about, what she was doing at where ever she was at that point in her business trip, her plans for the next day or evening. All of it seeming like, old friends keeping up on what was currently going on in our lives. Old friends? Funny, it just seems that way. Even though we've only known each other, for what, twelve days? But I guess a bond was forged that day on the train; a very intimate bond, which I still have a hard time believing it happened.
Pulling myself back from those thoughts remembering how she talked about her drive to Colorado Springs, and how the meetings went there. Then it was off for her meetings and conferences in San Diego, which she was very pleased with, and then on to Arizona for more of the same. But tonight she's in San Antonio, where hopefully she'll have a weekend to relax, before its on to Pensacola, Washington DC, then back home.
An for me, being in the Marine Corps, it's been a learning experience as I've listened to her telling me why this trip and these meetings are so important. Along with that, I've learned more about what she does, along with a lot more about her too. She's smart, dedicated, and very passionate about this program she feels so close to. So even with the amount of traveling she's been doing, it's been the positive feed back that's assured these programs are helping those they've been designed to help.
Now tomorrow being Sunday, and one more day of relaxation before the start of that last leg of her three week business trip where I haven't heard from her all day. So I hope every thing's alright? Because I've loved these phone calls! She's so damn easy to talk to, so refreshing, funny, easy to tease, making her laugh. An yeah Swaggart, you know your in over your head about the way you feel about her, but still, I love hearing her talk, and especially, I love hearing her laugh!
And while getting to know her this way has only fueled my curiosity, my wanting to know her so much more. Because I know, there's a lot more to her I want to learn. I guess that mystery makes her even more desirable then I could ever imagine.
Plus..., I'm sure she must have some idea on how I feel about her, why else would she call me so much, and spend so much time talking with me. But always in the back of my mind is the fact she's married! And even though we shared some very intimate minutes on that train, where I'm afraid it was something that just happened, nothing more. And this could be no more than just two friends who share a secret about that day. And another thing about that day is, other than laughing about what happened over lunch, neither one of us has said another word about it. Although for me, it plays back in my mind a lot, especially every time I put my leather jacket on and see her teeth marks she left in the collar.
And as for me, well, I have talked some about my marriage, and divorce. Where I've left out things that I've learned; things I didn't know until after our divorce. But Catherine hasn't pressed for anything more than what I've already told her. But that thing about her and her husband, as she calls it, "They're living two separate lives." For sure, that part of her I'm more than just curious about too. But that's one thing for sure, I won't tread on! Because I have a feeling, if this closeness continues, she'll tell me more about that part too.
Plus, with her being so easy talk to, its made it easier for me to talk about my deployments; along with some of my experience during those deployments. But I still hold back a lot, mostly because they're still hard for me to talk about. It was especially hard for my wife Sally; she really didn't want to hear it at all. It upset her too much a time she over heard me talking about a particular action with some of my Marine Corps friends. Plus, it's always been hard to relate those experiences to someone who hasn't been there and done that. I don't think they can fully understand what it's like to live with the constant fear, frustration, and anger at the loss of two very close friends that never should have happened. So I find it best not to talk about it at all, at least outside of a close knit circle of friends.
But again, Catherine seems to want to hear about it. Where one evening last week we got on the subject of just that, experiences. So letting my guard down I opened up to her the thing Sally overheard. Visualizing it again as I was telling her what happened, when I suddenly realized she hasn't said anything. So asking if she was still there, where she replied, " Of course I'm still here!" She said, "Why would I not be? You are one of the few since I've been in this job that's opened up about those kind of experiences." "Bob." She said. "I've been hanging on every word! So please don't stop talking to me." It showed me her interest, which impressed me! She really cares about those things, and why her programs hope to help the people who've been there.
Now again looking at my watch thinking, should I call or just let her be? Maybe she's enjoying that night out, a chance to unwind before the start another busy week. Like last weekend during our phone calls, she was telling me about having to write reports for her department so they could be kept up to date on what she's learned. Plus, her catching up on what she's missed by being away from the office.
But damn it, the woman is in my blood now. It was only that one incredible experience, a laugh filled lunch, days and evenings of these phone conversations where she tells me every thing that's happened as I sit back and listen to her with that slight huskiness in her voice. And yes, she is a talker when she gets started. Just please Catherine Parker, never stop talking to me!