His lips were generous and they took but gave back even more. I liked kissing but had never quite experienced a kiss this sexual before. Lex was either very experienced or very gifted. I wanted to think the latter. Especially since he was here with me, in my dark kitchen. Only this moment existed right now. Nothing and no one else did. 

Tongue gave way to desire and soft moans. Was he that excited right now? Gradually I realized it was my own voice eliciting the sounds and somehow that made it hotter. My body ached for more. I wanted him to pick me up, carry me to the couch and do more than kiss with his glorious lips and his divine everything else. Instead, he gradually slowed and pulled back, our flesh parting. I moaned again but this time in frustration. He chuckled. 

"You're going to give me a hard on I can't come back from..." He softly said. 

I hadn't expected him to stop! 

"Lex..." I said, almost a whine. "Don't stop." 

He bent down and lightly kissed this time, not allowing me to deepen anything. It made me moan again. Then he stepped back and ran his hands through his hair. He was watching me, taking my face in. I couldn't tell if he was upset or questioning himself. It began to make me feel self-conscious to the ninth degree. Again, another marine stopping. I should be used to it by now. 

Angrily, I turned around and opened the fridge. I grabbed two more beers and shut the door, trying to pass by Lex. He blocked me though. 

"Mila. I want to keep going, god knows I do." He said, grabbing ahold of his bulge roughly, indicating how excited he was. "But I am not going to hurt you."

What made these marines so virtuous? It threw me for a loop. 

"Ok. Fine. No problem. We can just keep watching the movie, keep it easy for you." I said. 

I knew I was being rude, and sarcastic. And a tad petty. But women can get sexually frustrated too, and it doesn't feel good either. Lex didn't talk, just followed me back to the couch. He sat where he had before and I made sure to sit as far away as I could. I handed him his beer and took a big drink of mine. We kept watching the film, pretending as if the steamy kiss never happened. It was awkward. 

Before I knew it, the movie was over and I was getting tired. Lex stood up and stretched. 

"I guess I'd better go Mila....I'll call you tomorrow. Maybe we can go for a hike or something?"

A hike? Like we were bro's now? I stood up as well and turned the living room light on dim. I was feeling very awake all of the sudden . My feelings were jumbled but I had to ask him. Had to know why he even came over in the first place. 

"Lex, why did you come tonight?"

He sighed, running his hands through his hair again. I saw hurt flash in his eyes. 

"I wanted to see you. I'm not gonna lie, I had hoped we could, you know...do more than what happened in the kitchen. I'm a guy.."

"Ok, so why did you stop? Is there something wrong with me? Is..."

He interrupted abruptly. 

"No! Nothing is wrong with you! God, it's just....we don't do that. Not to another marine's family member. Not in that way."

What the hell was he going on about? Another marines family member? He noticed my confusion and sighed again. Walking over to me, he rubbed my shoulders lightly before he touched my cheek. Then he dropped his hand, eyes falling downwards. 

"Your grandpa. He was a career marine. I can't just sleep with you then leave. It wouldn't be right Mila." He softly said. 

Oh good lord. He is equating grandpa to some code. But why? He wasn't here anymore. 

"Please, I'd love to hang out with you before I go. Get to know you more." He said.

I was stuck in a weird place with my thoughts. Maybe a hike would be ok. He was leaving anyways. 

"Ok. I'll call you in the morning." I finally replied. 

I walked him to the front door and he bent to give me a soft kiss. It was sweet, I had to admit. And kind of nice to know he cared to know who I was. Our lips parted and he smiled, his eyes ablaze. You'd think he just got some good news. 

"Talk to you soon..." He said.

I opened the door and watched him walk down the path towards his car. There was a Jeep parked across the street with its lights on. I frowned. It was late, almost midnight. Who was parked there? Once Lex pulled away with a wave, I got a better look at the driver. 

Luca. 

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"Really Mila?" 

Luca stood by his Jeep, hurt written all over his face. I was shocked, and embarrassed that he'd caught Lex leaving my house. Not that I did anything wrong. I wasn't dating either of them! 

"You're one to talk Luca...who was at your house today? Or were you at hers?" 

My arms were folded protectively over my chest and I didn't know what to do. Luca wore basketball shorts and a unit shirt from his work. His hair wasn't styled like usual, instead it was rumpled. Had he gotten out of bed to come and check on me? Why? 

"She is a coworker that I've been helping. She is a single mom and needed help with some home repairs. We help each other, it's what we do Mila.." He said angrily, beginning to walk towards me. 

"OH! A single mom! And YOU had to help her? Save it Luca.." 

I turned towards my front door, hurt oozing out of my voice. I thought I might cry. Luca should stay away from me, not keep appearing but being standoffish. This was too much. Right as my hand grabbed the door handle, Luca's was over it, covering me in warmth. I had to stop myself from shaking. I'd known the man less than a week and our chemistry was beyond palpable. 

"Mila, please." He breathed. "Can we go inside and talk?" 

Seconds ticked by as I wrestled within myself. Should I let him in or say no, and focus on Lex? Something from my subconscious said to trust him. A flash from my dream on the beach also played through my mind. The tall shadowed man, and my dads voice. It had to be a subtle sign. 

"Ok." I whispered. 

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Images of my grandpa in uniform had always filled my childhood with wonderful memories. He was a taller native Hawaiian, just like dad. His eyes were kind where his face looked fierce. 'Resting bitch face' they call it nowadays. He used to tell me stories of our ancestry and how we descended from warriors. We had fire in us, and we were protectors. I idolized him for who he was, as I did my dad. 

I picked up the framed picture of grandpa with his son in the office. Both in uniform. It was taken at a local charity event for veterans. Grandpa had long been retired but he still fit in his uniform as if he'd never left it. Dad was about to retire. My mom had come to the islands with him, just for this event. I wasn't there but stayed back in San Diego with a friend. Oh how I wished I'd come though. I missed this memory. 

"He must have been one helluva guy." 

Luca stood in the doorway, leaning casually with arms crossed. The pose made his muscles bulge. I glanced at him and nodded. Returning my gaze back to the picture, I gently placed it down on the desk. 

"He was. You'd have liked him." 

An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Luca stared at me, hazel irises shining and dimples appearing and disappearing as he chewed on his lower lip. We could text for hours but talking in person was so hard. It made no sense. I fought back the urge to go to him. 

"I wasn't lying Mila. I'm not dating anyone. Stephanie is one of our support staff and she asked for help with her bathroom plumbing. She couldn't afford to call a plumber. I wasn't going to say no." He said. 

"Ok." 

I needed air so I walked past him, our bodies brushing as I made contact. The back lanai gave me immediate relief once I stepped outside. I sighed and sat on a lounger. Was he telling me the truth? The woman had laughed. Laughed. So had he. 

"Who was the guy? He's clearly a marine." 

Luca stood by the lanai door, leaning as he had inside, arms folded. It made me upset for some reason. Why no emotion? Why was he acting so casual when he was the one who drove here in the first place? 

"Why do you care Luca? Am I some kind of little sister to you?" 

Suddenly I heard his feet advance towards me. He pulled me up off the chair firmly, but not too hard. I stared up at him. The hazel in his eyes glowed with emotion. He started to speak then stopped, looking deep into me as only he could seem to do. 

"Do you even like me in that way?" I asked. 

Lips crashed into mine, roughly. His hands pulled me in, as close as I could get. He was hard. Every bit of him. We kissed more passionately than even I had with Lex, earlier. He was giving me his answer without words. My mind went totally and utterly blank. Only this existed. Then he broke away just as suddenly. 

"You need to decide Mila, for yourself." 

As he had before, he left as suddenly as he'd arrived.

Luca finally kissed me.

 The oh so manly and virtuous marines were leaving the decision up to me. So what exactly did I want? 

**This story is only found on Wattpad. If found on another site, it was stolen. Thank you for reading.💋**