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15

WORM

A n hour later, back at the hotel, Worm is lounging in his room, missing Allison already. The day had gone better than he’d expected, despite the incident at the ice cream parlor. He’d gotten caught up in the moment with Allison and kissed her like his life had depended on it. Thankfully, no one had seen them except for Susie Beth and maybe Bull. Allison drives him to distraction which should frighten him, but knowing he’ll only be with her this short time is helping to keep him from freaking out completely.

Speaking of distractions, he needs to check in on his mom and sisters. He pulls up his contacts and calls his mom. The phone rings and rings before going to voicemail. Gritting his teeth, he waits for the pre-recorded message to finish. “Hey, mom. Just calling to see how everyone is doing. Call me when you have a minute.” He ends the call, and wonders why she hadn’t answered.

He hits another contact. It rings twice before a breathy, “Hello, Russ?” Sadie’s voice comes over the line.

“Hey, squirt, how’s it going?” Russell hates that every conversation he has with them begins this way, but it’s just the way it is.

“It’s okay.” Worm can hear the undertone of discontent in her voice, but knows she won’t tell on Amber directly unless she is asked, point blank, about their argument. “Are you having a good time?” Worm smiles. His little sister looks out for everyone else before herself, which is rare in a girl her age.

“As a matter of fact, I am having a great time,” Worm answers. He tells her all about the aquarium and the cool fish and aquatic creatures he’d seen that day. Sadie asks a million questions which he patiently answers for her. She chats away, and he can tell by the end of the conversation she is in a much better mood. “So, how is mom today?”

Sadie pauses, which is telling. “Well, she started out really good,” Sadie finally answers, “but when I came in from school, she was crying in her room.” Worm’s heart breaks for Sadie having to live through this. It’s been so hard for him to watch their mom struggle. He doesn’t want his baby sister to have to do the same.

“I’m sorry I’m not there,” Worm says, clearing his throat to keep his emotions from taking over. “I could come home for a couple days.”

“No, we don’t need you to come home, really,” Sadie insists. “Mom is just having a bad afternoon. Honestly, she’s been getting better lately. Like, a lot better the last couple of weeks, but I think Amber and I set her off this time. We’ve…we’ve not been getting along. I’m sorry, Russ. I know we need to be better. I just get so frustrated. Amber treats me like I’m her servant and that my feelings don’t matter.”

“I understand, Sadie girl. We are all hurting over losing Dad. Amber needs a better outlet for her grief.” Worm sighs. There is so much more he should be doing. “I’m going to talk to her. Maybe she needs to see a therapist. Do you think therapy has helped you?”

“Yes,” Sadie agrees. “I didn’t want to go either, at least not at first, but now I look forward to going. I feel better afterward, even though sometimes it’s tough getting through a session.” Worm’s heart breaks for his little sister. More than ever, he wishes he could be there for her and the rest of them. She is only twelve years old. She’s too young to be going through such an emotional toll and loss, basically on her own.

“I’ll talk to Amber,” Worm says. “I’m sure she’ll see reason.” Sadie snorts a sound indicating she doesn’t have faith in that. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see. I need to go, but if you need anything, Sadie, even if it’s just to talk, I’m here.”

“I know, Russ, but you’ve got so many important things to do,” Sadie answers, sounding defeated. “I’ll be okay.”

“I mean it, squirt. I’m never too busy for you.”

“Alright, thanks, Russ. I love you.”

“I love you, too. I’ll talk to you soon.” Worm ends the call, laying his phone on the bedside table.

Now what to do? The thought barely leaves his mind when there’s a knock at the door. He rises from the bed, strolling to the door. Using the peep hole, he sees Allison standing in the hallway. Her brown locks falling softly around her shoulders. She’s wearing a low-cut sundress, showing a fair amount of cleavage. His heart rate spikes, and his cock jerks. He quickly opens the door. “What’s up, sugar?”

Allison bites her lip, peeking up at him through her lashes. “I wondered if you wanted to hang out for a little while?” She turns her head checking both directions of the hall. “There’s supposed to be a girls’ afternoon by the pool, but I'm not interested. I thought if you weren’t busy we could do something together.”

A huge grin spreads across his face. “What did you have in mind, sugar?” His tone is low and seductive. Allison presses her lips together, shooting a glare at him. Unable to contain it any longer, he laughs at the expression on her adorable face.

“I thought we could watch a movie or something,” Allison grouses. “Of course a Neanderthal like you would have something else in mind.”

“Guilty,” he purrs, reaching out to pull her into his room, a squeak leaving her. “What do you expect me to think about when you look good enough to eat in that dress?” Allison’s face flushes a deep pink.

“You really like it?” Allison spins around. The skirt of her dress flaring out to give him a peek of her milky thighs before dropping down to her knees again. He pulls her body flush to his.

“Yeah, I do,” he says softly, skimming his lips along the side of her neck. She trembles in his arms, a sigh escaping her. He pulls her lips to his, kissing her properly. When he pulls back, “What movie do you want to watch?” Allison’s eyes are glazed over. She blinks a couple times before answering.

“I don’t know. What kind of movies do you like?”

“Anything except a chick flick,” he replies, knowing she’s going to protest. He’s banking on it. If there’s one thing he’s learned in the couple days he’s known the woman, it’s that he loves to banter with her.

“You’re such a caveman,” Allison complains. She deepens her voice. “Me big bad Marine. Must watch war movies!” She makes fists and flexes her biceps in a perfect muscle man pose. Worm can’t be offended at her imitation of him. He finds her to be too damn cute to be annoyed with her.

He attempts to pull her to him again, but she dances out of his reach. She snags the remote off the nightstand and begins to flip through the channels. She mutters to herself at action movies that are on cable. She chooses an app and quickly types in her login information.

“Here,” Allison declares. “This is a classic. It has everything anyone can want. Kidnapping, intrigue, sword fighting…” Worm perks up at that and moves over to sit next to her on the bed before glancing at the T.V. “...and kissing.” The Princess Bride is on the screen .

“Come on,” he groans. “My sisters make me watch this all the time.” Allison presses the play button. Worm knows it’s a waste of breath to argue. It’s been his experience that once a woman starts on that movie, there’s no stopping her.

Fluffing the pillows along the headboard, he rests his back against it pulling Allison into his side. She rests her head on his right pectoral and snuggles into him. “You know you love it.” Worm chuckles because the woman is correct. He does love the movie, but he must protest. His man card demands it.

They settle in to watch the movie. Allison giggles from time to time when something amusing happens. Worm is amazed at how right it feels to have her laying on his chest and doing something so simple. He tries to recall the last time he’d been on an actual date. It must have been right after finishing basic.

He’d taken a girl, Cindy, from his hometown out to the movies while he’d been home on leave, at the insistence of his grandparents who were close friends with her family. He’d seen her around the high school but didn’t know her. He grimaces recalling the night. She’d been all giggly, giving him moon-eyes. He’d known it was a mistake when her father had opened the door, but he was already there, so he'd taken her out anyway.

The entire night she’d rattled on and on about how she could go to college anywhere so she didn’t mind him being in the Marines and the possibility of moving from base to base. He’d managed not to groan out loud when she’d dropped that little bomb.

Apparently, she’d gotten it in her head they were going to be an item and get married. It hadn’t been easy, but he’d politely let her down, telling her in no uncertain terms he wasn’t interested in marriage any time soon. He glances down at Allison who’s giggling again at something Mancini has said. Why did the thought of marriage draw his attention to Allison?

“Don’t you just love and hate Mancini?” Allison peers up at him from her nest on his chest. Her hazel eyes are bright and expectant.

“Yeah, he’s an idiot, but you can’t keep from laughing at the shit he says,” Worm agrees with her, glad to be distracted by the movie again. Allison laughs, resting her head on him again. It crosses his mind he could easily lay here with her for days and not be bored.

By the time Wesley has saved Buttercup and Montoya has bested the six-fingered man, Worm and Allison have slumped down in his bed, until they’re laying on their backs, side by side. His hand has been absently moving over Allison’s back in small circles.

Worm lets his hand drift lower to smooth over her hip. A low hum escapes her as the credits roll. The soft, hungry sound snaps him into action. Using the arm he has behind her back, he rolls her to lay on top of him. Her gasp is cut off when he captures her mouth with his, their tongues dancing.

“Caveman,” Allison moans while his tongue leaves a trail down her neck. He sucks the soft flesh into his mouth when he reaches the junction of her shoulder. Her hands slide down to pull his t-shirt from his waistband, pushing the fabric up. His abdomen tightens when her hands slide over his taut flesh.

His hands cup her ass, squeezing the firm globes. Another moan escapes her when he presses her sex against his hardened length. His mind races as his body readies to finally have her, lowering his hands to slip them under her dress and caress her soft skin. He trails up her thighs, his fingers brushing over the strip of silk that keeps him from touching her secret place.

“Yes,” she breathes out on a pant. “Please, Russell. I’m so ready for you.” Her panties are soaked with her need. He is more than ready for her, too.

“You sure are, baby,” he murmurs, pushing the scrap of material out of his way to drag his fingers through her folds, loving how wet she is for him. Swirling his thumb over her clit causes her to pump her hips in response with a greedy moan. Two fingers drive deep inside eliciting more ravenous sounds. His mouth leaves a wet trail along her collarbone as he seeks out the succulent flesh of her breasts that are still covered by her clothes. He needs to get them out of the way, but she’s so close to coming. The walls of her soaking pussy are beginning to tighten on his fingers.

“Oh, God! Yes! Don’t stop!” Allison rears up, throwing her head back, riding his hand. Her hips move in time with his hand. A gush of fluid coats his fingers while her hips move erratically. She’s so fucking gorgeous when she comes. She drops on top of him, her chest heaving. Little tendrils of her hair are flapping with each puff of breath.

Worm is about to strip her down and roll her onto her back so he can, at long last, bury his aching cock inside her, but a shrill sound causes both of them to stiffen. The loud sound comes again from the pocket of Allison’s dress.