Chapter 18

"Have I ever told you how pretty you are?" Lucas said.

The love birds were currently in a field on the outskirts of town. They had driven in Lucas's truck, a four wheeled drive that seemed to be competing with The flash on the highway.

Kiara blushed, looking everywhere else aside from the man that was behind her smile.

"You've said that to me more times than I can count Lucas." she smiled.

Lucas cupped her face, giving her a warm kiss. This was his favorite thing to do because it gave him the assurance that she was his and his alone.

"And I'll never get tired of saying it. You complete me Kiara and I bless the day I saw you for the first time in that GQ magazine. Looks like we were meant to be." he chuckled.

"We were," Kiara smiled.

They stayed in comfortable silence for a while, watching the scenery while being at peace with each other.

"You really haven't told me about the job you do," Kiara said.

Lucas sighed. He knew this topic was bound to come up one way or the other and he didn't know if he was ready to have it with her.

"I'm sorry, I said something bad?" Kiara back tracked.

"No... No, you didn't." Lucas said.

The last thing he wanted her to feel was awkward or sad. She had every right to ask him about his job since most of the time, they would be together.

"I think I told you i was in the military right? The Marine to be precise" he said.

"Yeah, you did and that's a really brave thing for you to do. I mean, it takes a whole lot of guts for one to even enlist in the Army." Kiara said.

"My dear, you have no idea," Lucas laughed.

His rich baritone voice filled the whole area and Kiara found herself loving every minute of it. He made her whole, made her feel safe in his arms and this was something she had always wanted to feel.

"So what has it been like? You know, the whole thing." she said.

"There are so many stories about it but I think I'll just tell you the less horrific ones" he smiled.

"But I want to hear it all," she pouted.

"No babies, less horrific ones or nothing," Lucas laughed.

"Deal then" Kiara laughed.

"Okay. So here goes, there was a particular day we had to go on a mission to a nearby town that was really ravaged by insurgents, bandits. You know, those bad guys" he began.

"Wow, that's terrible," Kiara said.

She sat up to have a better look at the man she had come to love. As he spoke, she found herself staring at his plump lips she had kissed so many times.

"We went as a group because we believed that way, we could achieve what we wanted to achieve and that was to send those bad guys away. It got so bad when our truck got it and guess what?"he asked, looking down at her.

"What?" Kiara asked.

She feared to know the answer to his question but she knew she had to find out what happened if she was to get the full picture of the story.

"I was in the truck" he said, finally.

"Oh my God! No!" Kiara said.

"That's how I got this scar." Lucas said, pulling open the top button of his shirt to reveal a jagged line across his chest.

"Damn! I'm so sorry Lucas." Kiara sighed.

She knew what she had signed up for when she agreed to date him. He could be called at any time for war and that was something she didn't know if she could live with but nevertheless, she knew she had to live with it because she was hopelessly in love with him.

"It's not your fault honey and it was a long time ago. Sometimes, I forget it's even there not until I see it." he chuckled.

Kiara sighed, looking at the clouds as they traveled by. The sky was so beautiful but her heart at thatauntent was far from beautiful.

There were different thoughts plaguing her mind and they all centered on Lucas. She had thoughts about whether he would survive if he got called to fight again. He was in the military and his first line of duty was to protect his country and she knew that would always come first.

"Babe, you're thinking again." he sighed.

"I can't help but think about all of this. What if you get called to fight and you don't make it, what then becomes of me." Kiara sighed.

Lucas sighed. He understood everything she was feeling and he felt the same way too but at that auntent, there was nothing either of them could do.

"I will always live. For you Kiara, I will always live." he smiled.

He leaned closer to her, placing a soft kiss on her lips. There was absolutely nothing he wouldn't do for her and that includes living.

"I love you, always know that Lance corporal Lucas." Kiara giggled.

"Ohh look who's going military on me." Lucas laughed.

"I can't help it. It has a nice ring to it." Kiara giggled.

"It sure does," Lucas smiled.

"How is your aunt?" Kiara asked.

Lucas' parents had died a year ago, leaving behind his aunt and him. He was an only child and imagined the horror she felt when her only sin decided to enlist in the army.

"She's fine. She's in Florida. Chicago's cold is too much for her." Lucas laughed.

"But to be honest, it is. The weather keeps plummeting every single day." Kiara laughed.

"I know right. Well, that just means I can snuggle with you every time I like." he grinned.

Kiara sat up, hugging him as she brought her lips to his. She kissed him with everything she had and she knew that as long as she lived, this was what she would always enjoy.

Lucas gave her a sense of peace and security and that was something she really needed in her life especially since she saw the signs of her boss being temperamental. She would tell Lucas all about it one day but just not now.

She didn't want anything to ruin this auntent and she vowed that nothing ever will.