The Return

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

1

Exclusive Story for Tuesday Morrigan’s Tidbits Yahoo Group

Actual Word Count: 3,486

Milani stood outside the opulent store as the low grey clouds rumbled above her. At the ominous sound she lifted her head. She was forced to push back the large wool hat she wore to ward off the coming winter cold just to see the sky. The dark grey clouds did not look promising and judging by the way people scattered and coalesced around her, Milani wasn’t the only one feeling that the sky was about to open on them. Still, she kept her painfully slow pace. She had nowhere to go. Unlike the people surrounding her, she had no one at home waiting for her. She didn’t even have a pet to call her companion. She watched from beneath her large red fluffy hat as the men and women darted around her. She caught one man’s stone eyed gaze. He smiled at her before walking past. She couldn’t help her involuntary action. She turned to watch him go. People jostled her, but she still kept her eyes on his shrinking frame.

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

2

He had reminded her of her only lover. For one second she had seen Banner’s warm grey eyes when she looked into his gaze. That seemed to be nothing new, at least not lately. But that was to be expected. It was after all the anniversary of the night she had been torn from his strong, tender arms. She took a deep breath as the memories assailed her. The cold, hard floor they had slept on, the way her small, plump frame had fit against his gigantic, toned body, and the way he had touched her as if she was the only woman he had ever seen all came rushing back to her. With the good memories came the bad. She remembered the sound of the gun shots, the burning sensation of torn flesh, and the angry pain she felt as she pressed her palm to Banner’s bleeding body. Her fingers brushed against the butter soft leather coat she wore, drifting over her shoulders. And even though her fingers never touched her skin, Milani felt the warm brush of skin against the tender flesh. Like most people, Milani would always wear the scars of her past. Unlike most she had an actual scar, a bullet wound to precise, to remind her of her past. Not for the first time in three hundred and sixty five days, she wondered if Banner had faired as well as she had. Had the army doctors taken as good a care of him as they did her? Were his scars as minimal as hers? Did he have to search with a bright light to find the proof of her memories? Her lips twisted into a grim smile as her mind answered her own question. The doctors probably patched him up well enough to keep him alive so he could go on another mission. Banner Barrington was, after all, an Army Ranger. They couldn’t afford to lose him. The government definitely couldn’t afford to lose one of its very precious, yet totally expendable, Rangers. Her eyes widened at the sound of the bellman’s voice. She slowly lifted her gaze until they connected with his friendly blue eyes. When had she reached her apartment building? “Good morning Mr. Knapp,” she said softly. Her voice barely carried on the air long enough to reach him. He shook his head from left to right. “Good afternoon Ms. Lawal,” he said with a bright, warm smile.

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

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Her gaze drifted to her watch. Knapp was right. It was after one in the afternoon. Her morning walk had taken her on another long excursion. She lifted her gaze and saw pain in his eyes. Instant recognition slammed through her. His clear gaze was a mirror. He felt and saw her pain everyday. He knew why she woke at dawn to walk the streets of Manhattan. “These walks of yours aren’t safe Ms. Lawal.” She sighed. They were back on that again. “I don’t go anywhere dangerous,” she said as she stepped through the door he held open for her. “But that nice young man warned us not to leave you alone,” he said in a voice tinged with exasperation. He too was tired of having the same conversation. Anger erupted out of nowhere. “I don’t give a damn what he said. I’m not hiring a goddamn bodyguard,” she said in a deadly, whispered voice. Knapp stammered in the face of her shocking anger. In the year Milani had lived at the apartments, she had never displayed a temper. But he was her sore spot. Banner hadn’t come to see her, but he had made sure to contact everyone who had anything to do with her apartment building to tell them that she should never be left alone. The bastard. She’d been caged one too many times already. She wasn’t about to hire someone to follow her around. And he knew that. That was the reason for the highhanded, conniving tactics. “I’m sorry,” she said to Knapp as she patted his frail, blue veined fingers. Milani had no right to take her anger out on the bellman, but it was difficult when the source of her anger was nowhere to be found. Banner had disappeared from her hospital room after checking to make sure she was going to be fine. One kiss against her lips and he walked out her life.

*** She woke at the feel of his body pressed against hers. Her first instinct was to scream. He must have seen the thought in her eyes. His quick hands immediately clamped over her parted lips.

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

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“And here I thought you would have missed me Lass,” he said his voice thick and low. There was no denying the unmistakable hunger in his tone. Her dark brown eyes widened above his large, callused palm. Her face heated up at the sound of the endearment rolling of his tongue. He hadn’t forgotten her. He had not forgotten what they had shared. Her mind instantly went back to the moment when he had told her she was sweet, thick, and dark, just like molasses. She was his Lass, his sugar. She was his molasses in a very bitter world. “Because I sure did miss you, Sugar,” he drawled before lowering his hard frame against her body. His large, sinewy arms bracketed her head. Almost belatedly, she realized that the large protrusion pressing against the soft mound of her belly was his cock. Banner was aroused. “I missed you too,” she breathed against his lips. His storm cloud grey eyes instantly landed on her plump parted lips. Her tongue nervously slid out to flick against the tender flesh. His breathing immediately deepened. He slowly lifted his eyes till he caught her gaze. “I want to touch you, but I can’t.” A smile tugged his firm lips. “Feel like helping me get clean?” he asked with mischief in his eyes. Her eyes suddenly misted over with unshed tears and for one horrifying second, Milani was afraid she was going to cry. “Banner,” she simply whispered instead. He must have heard the unspoken need in her voice because his callused fingers brushed against the wisps of baby fine midnight hair that framed her face. Then his fingers skimmed across her cheeks. “Don’t worry Lass. This time I’m not going anywhere. This time I’m here to stay.” Her heart lurched at his words. “How?” she asked, shocked and confused. “I gave them my papers. I wanted out and I wanted you.” “Are you sure?” His face split into a smile that was as fast and bright as lightening. “I’m very sure Lass. I’m thinking of starting a private investigator service.” She smiled up at him before wrapping her arms around his neck. “I could help.” He shook his head no slowly and lowered himself until he was barely a breath away. “You’re going to be too married and too pregnant to help.”

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The Return

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Her smile was instantaneous. “Yeah?” she said with an arched eyebrow. “Definitely,” he said with a smile. “Come on, Lass. I want to get clean before I get dirty.” He slowly lifted himself from her body. Milani padded barefoot behind him She felt decidedly un-sexy. He, on the other hand, looked devastatingly good in his fatigues. Then again maybe it was because she hadn’t seen him in a year. He sat on the covered toilet seat and beckoned to her. “Come here,” he growled, his southern accent thick and dark. Banner pulled Milani and dragged her between his splayed legs. She immediately felt the heat of his hard thighs. Her hands landed on the mountains of his shoulders and her fingernails dug into the strong flesh. He looked up at her, his grey eyes hot with desire. Her breath caught in her throat. Milani knew without being told that he wanted her to undress him. His arms snaked out and grasped her around her waist. In one deft move he placed her on his thighs. Milani suddenly found herself straddling Banner. His cock rubbed against her naked sex. She slowly rolled her hips. He immediately growled an expletive. “I was going to wait,” he breathed against her lips seconds before he descended on her. His lips were firm and insistent as they moved across hers, forcing Milani to open for him. His tongue thrust into the moist, hot cavern of her mouth to lick, flick, and caress every inch of her succulent mouth. Her groan of dismay vibrated through the thick air when he broke of the kiss. It had been too long. She had missed Banner too much. “God, I missed you,” he said as his callused fingers brushed against her soft, mahogany skin, skimmed across her cheeks, and straightened out her midnight eyebrows before landing on her parted lips. His words, his touch, and the emotion swimming in his vivid gaze were too much for Milani to ignore. She knew without words how Banner felt. “There’s something I need to tell you,” he softly rumbled against her neck. Milani looked up, caught his gaze, and waited with bated breathe for the storm to erupt.

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

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“I love you,” he whispered against her lips. He stared into her eyes for several seconds. She could feel him gauging her reaction. Suddenly his hard, tense face broke into a smile. “It’s ok, sweetheart. I love you Milani.” She finally found her voice. “I love you too Banner. I couldn’t…” Her voice broke. She didn’t dare voice the pain and insecurity she had lived with for a year. Her small fingers suddenly grasped at the hem of his shirt. He obediently lifted his arms so she could pull the tight shirt over his head. Her fingers skirted across the sexy mat of crisp hairs. She then slid her palms up over the hard planes of his chest until they settled on his shoulders. He suddenly tensed under her touch. The memories hit her almost immediately. Her small hands skimmed down his back until she reached the small, bump of scared flesh. It was a cruel reminder of the bullet he had taken for her. “Thank you,” she whispered softly as she looked deep into his turbulent grey eyes. One small manicured fingernail outlined the hard, ridged flesh. He turned his head away breaking her gaze. “Banner,” she said softly. “I know it was part of the job, but I want to say thank you, anyway.” His head whipped around at her words. “It was never part of the job with you. It was…something else, something that I was happy and proud to do.” Fat, silver tears leaked out of her eyes at his words. She tried to sniff them back, but they wouldn’t stay. Soon Milani was sobbing over his naked chest. Banner cradled her in his strong arms and when finally, the last of her hiccups quieted, he picked her up and carried her across the room until they reached the shower stall. One large broad hand reached out and lifted her face until her warm brown eyes connected with his stone hot gaze. His rough thumb caressed her cheek sending jagged shards of heat and desire through her body. “I think it’s about time we washed away the past, don’t you?” he asked, his voice rough with concern and emotion. Milani looked up at Banner, saw the love swimming in his eyes, and knew somehow everything would be alright.

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

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She lifted up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Love me Banner,” she whispered against the sensitive flesh of his collarbone. He shuddered against her. “I’m not sure I can do that Lass,” he said, his voice dark and dangerous. “Then fuck me,” she said boldly. Milani didn’t care that he couldn’t be tender now. She only cared that he touch her, slide his body against hers, and plunge his cock into her, reminding her of who she belonged to. She needed him. She needed him to be a part of her. “Just touch me.” He stripped Milani of her oversized shirt in one fell swoop. His hard hands grasped the full mounds of her ass and lifted her against his chest. Somehow she got her hands between their bodies to unbuckle the belt that held up his pants. Banner kicked off his pants the moment they fell. Holding Milani against him, Banner stepped into the clear glass shower. He lightly placed Milani on her feet before turning and maneuvering the shower knobs. After a few turns hot water poured over their heads. Milani turned and grabbed the perfumed soap and sponge. She stood on her toes and washed the chiseled planes of Banner’s chest. The feel of his muscles underneath her fingertips felt so good to Milani, she groaned with pleasure. When Banner’s body was fully coated with soap suds, Milani dropped the sponge. She pressed her palms against Banner’s chest and slid her hands up until she reached the tight peaks of his flat nipples. She lightly flicked one. Banner’s resounding groan vibrated along the walls of the tiled shower. Her hands drifted down his body until she reached the thatch of hair at the juncture of his thighs. Milani wrapped her slick fingers around the thick length of Banner’s long cock. He let out an expletive when she pumped her fingers up and down his dick. Banner tightened his fingers in her hair and lifted her face for his bruising kiss. His tongue thrust past her lips and licked the roof of her mouth. Milani thrust the wet heat of her tongue deep into his mouth. She groaned when Banner sucked on it. When they broke off the kiss, Milani looked up to find Banner holding the bar of soap. He lathered up her body from head to toe and everywhere in between. His fingers grasped the firm buds of her nipples and pinched, pulled, and tugged until her breath was a shallow pant.

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

8

Banner spread her legs and tenderly touched her nether lips. She groaned when his fingers spread the lips of her sex. Then he slid down her body until hot gaze was on level with her sex. She clutched Banner’s head against her when his tongue, hot and wet, ran down the length of her moist slit. She pressed her fist against her mouth when Banner wrapped his lips around her clit and sucked hard. She came almost instantly in a blinding orgasm that seemed to rip apart every inch of her body. She groaned low and deep when Banner screwed two thick fingers into her moist sheath as she climaxed. “Oh my god,” she screamed when her body tightened in painful arousal as Banner thrust his fingers in and out of her tight pussy at the same time that he licked her clitoris. The feelings of desire and need were so strong that she felt like she was being tortured and pleased at the same time. No man had ever made Milani feel the way that Banner did, but at that moment she felt something so strong, it obliterated every other sensation she had ever felt. He was driving her out of her mind. Her fingers tightened in her hair, tugging at the long ebony braided strands, as her second orgasm thundered through her body. Milani slowly opened her midnight eyes to stare into Banner’s hot slate eyes. Milani felt embarrassment and desire rise in her veins when Banner’s long, strong fingers wrapped around each of her thighs and lifted her. Still she didn’t dare break their gaze. She clutched at his shoulders before wrapping her legs around his waist. He took a step forward and her hot skin hit the cool shower wall. She tentatively moved her hips and they both groaned in unison when her moist pussy lips rubbed against the head of his cock. She took a deep breath and the large ruddy head caught on her nether lips, pressing against her clit in the moist devastating way. “Shit,” Banner rumbled against the tender flesh of her neck. One hand drifted in between their bodies. Then his cock was pressing against her moist flesh, demanding submission. A thousand flickering flames of desire licked at her womb as she waited for him to enter her. Then impatient and needy, Milani dug her blunt fingernails into his shoulder before shifting her hips and sliding down the long, hard length of his cock. Together they groaned when Banner was seated to the hilt. The sound of their harsh breathing echoed off the slick walls of the shower.

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

9

His fingers tightened on her thighs as he slid out of her moist heat. He plunged and almost immediately withdrew. Banner then settled his lips upon hers. Milani’s mouth immediately softened beneath his. She sighed against his parted lips before thrusting her tongue into his mouth at the same moment that he thrust into her. Unrestrained pleasure shot through every one of her veins. “Dear God,” Milani groaned against his parted lips at the feel of Banner scraping, teasing, and rubbing along every inch of the slick walls of her pussy. He filled her completely, stretching the tight, fluttering walls of her cunt. “Harder,” she groaned when he plunged into her. Her gaze caught his eyes and the glittering leashed passion she saw there took her breath away. “Fuck me now, Banner,” she whispered against his firm lips. Milani needed the dominate beast inside him to run free. She needed him to love her, fuck her like never before. Banner pulled back and stared down at their connected bodies. Milani’s gaze followed his. The sight of their intertwined bodies took her breath away. The beautiful mixture of their colors was stunning. Banner slowly thrust his pale ruddy cock into her mahogany pussy. She groaned when he pressed against that delicious mythical spot that only he could reach. Banner gave her a wicked smile before repeating the caress. Milani threw her head back and let out a guttural groan as pleasure assailed her every sense when he thrust deep inside of her. The dark sound of their combined raspy breathing floated over her ear and his touch ignited something deep and dark as he gripped her hips. With her every breath, Milani tasted the essence of Banner. Her hazy gaze caught his grimace of pleasure as her nails pierced the skin of his shoulders as she screamed for more. Her nails dug into the tense flesh of his muscular back as she gripped him to her, moving her hips to a rhythm that was in sync with his. The harsh sounds of their groans vibrated along the pungent air as he thrust into her. Their soap slick bodies glided over one another as Banner pressed his hard body to Milani’s plump frame. The thrusts gradually went deeper caressing the depths of her womb. Then when a surging rush of desire swept through her that was so powerful she screamed out Banner’s name, his pace changed. His strokes were faster, harsher, and more elemental. He gripped her hips as he plunged into her, stroking her, fucking her like she wanted and needed.

Tuesday Morrigan

The Return

10

Banner captured her plump lips in a punishing kiss, thrusting his tongue into her mouth at the same time that he thrust into her. Then the harsh, hurried pace of his thrusts increased. Milani moaned into his mouth, dug her nails into his back, and came in a blinding orgasm that threatened to rip apart her very soul. Banner pumped once, twice, thrice, before shuddering and groaning an expletive against her parted lips. Milani laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes to give her body time to regain its breath. She pressed a soft kiss to Banner’s scarred shoulder as a single white hot tear slid down her cheek. Banner was back. He had returned to her. Her lover had returned.