The Soldier Next Door

…Ana POV…

They say that sometimes you have to love someone from a distance, give them space, and get their heads straight before coming back into your life. It has been three days now; every part of my being was hoping that I would have heard from Ethan by now, but nothing. Not a call, not even an angry message, nothing at all.

I sat here in silence and watched him as he packed all his things in two suitcases. Not even hours later, he was out the door. One thing that he did not take along with him was my heart. He had, with one final resolve, detached himself from it.

Today we are to meet up for a briefing before we ship out. This means that I shall be forced to see him today. Much to my disappointment, and I am sure Ethan’s too, Ray could not get me a transfer. I shall be stationed with Ethan’s platoon for the next six months.

Katarina has been staying here for these past couple of days; she is most frustratingly trying me to get dressed up so that I can get Ethan’s attention.

“Come on, girl, show the man what he is missing out on.”

“If the man was missing this, don’t you think he would have called by now?”

“He just needs a push in the right direction.”

“Yes, as far away as possible from me.”

“I thought you were damn stubborn, but this boy beats you hands down. Still, show the man what he is missing out on.”

“Urgh. I am so going to regret this.”

I go to scratch in my closet for a pair of tights that I know he likes; it is a pair of denim that sits really tight around my ass. I remember the day when he struggled to get me out of them. I was laughing so hard; he did not find it quite that funny, for he was even harder, just waiting to burst. He got so frustrated whenever he tried to pull; I kept wiggling my ass. I doubt he will even notice it.

…Ethan POV…

Nothing hurts more than being disappointed by the single person that you thought would not hurt you. I know that I should forgive and move on, but my heart is hurting like a bitch. I know I will one day, but today is not going to be that day.

To make it worse, I am being forced to be in the same room as her today. Ray could not get her a transfer; if you ask me, he did it on purpose. It does not change the reason why I am really here. I have made my decision; I am not going back.

But of course, I have Gibbs that is grinding my ass about it. He is telling me some shit about looking irresistible just to rub it in her face and show her what she has messed up.

“I am telling you, man, show some skin. It is going to drive the chick mad.”

“The last thing I want is to drive the woman anything. The only driving that is going to happen is me up against a wall.”

“Yeah, like pinning you to a wall while having her way with you.”

“You have two chances of that happening.”

“Let’s guess… slim to fuck all.”

“Exactly. I have told you I am done; I am not falling for it for a third time.”

“Still does not mean you should not rub it in her face.”

“Fine, I will show some skin. You better hope it does not blow up in my face.”

I grab a white button-up shirt from my closet and throw on a pair of black paints that sits tight enough around my ass. Four buttons open and one very hard-muscled chest bulging from it, Gibbs nods his approval, and we are ready to go.

…Ana POV…

I am silently sitting here in the corner, trying not to be noticed when in walks Ethan. If I say that my heart did not skip a beat, then I would be lying. He is looking devilishly handsome. Now he knows how my knees crumble when I see that hard-muscled chest that is so freely on display at the moment. I am shy to admit, but all I can think of his running my fingers over it and get completely lost in him.

And of course, he has to walk past close to where I am sitting; if I did not know him better, then I would swear that he is doing it on purpose. But I have got to know Gibbsand and Williams a lot better; I know that one of them has put him up to this.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

But wait, they are not finished yet; for now, Ray and Ricky are joining the charade. And what is even better is now this group of drop-dead handsome men are walking on over to where I am sitting. The purpose was not to be seen; guess that blew up in my face. It is Ray that greets me the first.

“Hey, Ana. I believe you have met all the boys?”

“Yes, I believe so. Please do not tell me that I am the only woman with this platoon?”

“There is Lucy, but I still need to confirm.”

Then Hunter, as they call him, feels he should have a word to say. His damn husky voice nearly sends me over the edge. When did he get so goddamn sexy? It is like this is a completely different Ethan than the one I have gotten to know.

“I am sure Ana knows how to handle a bunch of men.”

“Yes, of course, I know how to handle a bunch of soldiers.”

“I am sure you do.”

Is he for real? Is he going to take me on in front of everybody here? He surely won’t have a go at me like this? Well, I am not going to keep my mouth shut for some damn hot squad leader that is an arrogant asshole.

“Well, as long as they know their place.”

“And that is probably at your feet.”

“I prefer my men to look me in the eye.”

“As long as they can look past those pretty brown eyes.”

“Are you saying my eyes are pretty, Hunter?”

“No, it is what is behind them that they need to look out for.”

…Ethan POV…

Who does she think she is coming looking like that? If she thinks it shall make me look at her twice, she is sadly mistaken. I am only looking at her now because I am being forced to do so. She might fool these men with that body and those brown eyes; she ain’t fooling me with any of that superficial shit again. And in saying that, her heart is just as cold as that bottle of water she is holding.

One thing that I am glad for is that she is part of the medical staff. I need not have to deal with her unless I am injured, and even then, there is Lucy. The less I have to see her for these six months, the better it would suit me.

And even these five minutes have been too long. Best is that I leave now before I really say something that both of us will regret.

“Well, I enjoyed the chat Ana, but the boys have other things to do.”

“Boys? Are you not good enough to be men?”

“If we are boys, then you will leave us alone since you prefer men.”

I see as Ray looks at me with a wicked smile on his face. He is up to something, and I am about to find out. Much to my complete horror, he goes and does the unthinkable

“The four of you boys shall sit here with Ana to make her feel at home and keep the rest of these boys away from her.”

“We are marines Ray, not babysitters.”

“For the next five hours, you are.”

I know what he is doing, and it is not going to work. And as for these three assholes that have conveniently left the only available chair open for me next to her.

“Thank you, guys; you are going to wish you did not do this tomorrow after I conveniently forget how to count.”

They only but laugh me off as I take my seat next to the woman that I am trying to get the furthest from.

“Can we just be civilized for the next five hours?”

“Ray said I must sit here; I don’t have to talk to you.”

“Do you always have to be so impossible?”

“Do you always have to break people that love you into pieces?”

“What did you say?”

“Are you going deaf now too?”

“You said you love me.”

“I did not.”

“Ethan, you know you did.”

“So what if I did Ana, still does not change the fact that I do not want to be with you.”

“How can you love someone and not want to be with them?”

“It is easy. Do you want me to show you?”