A Soul Mate's Promise (24 page)

I take my jewelry off, then my shoes. Sal tosses his shirt onto the floor and kicks his shoes off to the side. He comes over to me and turns me away from him so he can pull out the pins supporting my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders. Then he unzips my gown. I hold it so it won’t fall, leaving me exposed. Sal steps in front of me.

“Let me see you,” he pleads.

I let the gown fall to the floor and all I have on is lacy, little black panties. Sal kneels and slides them down my legs. Tapping at each foot for me to lift. He stands back up and flings them away. His eyes sear into me the whole time.

“Make love with me, Gracie,” he says, pulling me towards him. His kiss is so deep, so urgent, the sensation makes him hard. Putting my hands on his chest, I try to push away, but he has me tight in his strong grip.

“Don’t,” he says firmly. “Don’t push me away. I need you. We need this. I want to make love to you all night and into the morning.”

“I’m afraid,” I whisper to him. “What if it’s the last time?” And then I realize that if it is the last time, do I want to miss it? Do I want to regret my last hours with him?

Without a word, he picks me up, and I wrap my legs around him. He places me on the bed and turns out the light. I hear the swoosh of his pants and he is on me.

“I’m here, always,” he whispers as he kisses my throat and between my breasts. “I will always be right here.” And he kisses over my heart.

Licking his way down my belly he settles on my sweet spot, gently dipping his tongue at my core. I run my fingers through his wavy hair as he works me. My blood runs hot and my heart is pounding.

I’m close, so close, when he stops and kneels on the bed between my legs. He gathers me up in an embrace and my legs encompass him as he gently sets me in place. I bury him deep inside me as he sits back, gripping my hips. We move, pumping with the beat of our hearts. My body quivers at the feeling of Sal’s hard body beneath me and inside me–my hands are splayed on his chest and I can feel his heart thumping as fast as mine. Rocking back and forth, the passion is rising.

“Look at me,” Sal orders. “Tell me when. Don’t look away from me.”

All my muscles contracted as my orgasm began. “NOW!” I cry out in pleasure. Our gaze locked and together we soared into ecstasy on moans of satisfaction.

Sal guides my hips until he is drained, and I collapse on his chest, the hair tickling my nose.

Wrapping his arms around my back and holding me securely in place, he whispers, “Don’t move.” His voice is raw, “I want to be inside of you forever. I want to remember how you feel inside and out while I’m away from you.”

I stay perfectly still, as he caresses my back and legs. He strokes my hair and traces my face with his fingertips. I listen as his heart rate slows and his breathing evens out.

Not a word is spoken, we just cling to each other, softly touching then kissing, he rolls me on my back. Passion rising to high oblivion, we love again and again till we are debilitated and sleep consumes us.

*       *       *

We sleep late into the morning of the New Year. The sun is creeping in the windows casting a golden-yellow glow around the room.

Steve knocks on the door. “Hey, you guys up and or decent? I need to talk to you.”

“Just a minute, Steve.” Sal calls out. He gets up and quickly throws on a pair of sweats. He grabs my fuzzy robe and swings it over to me. When I’m covered, Sal opens the door.

“Hey guys, listen. I checked some flights and was able to get one that leaves in about three hours. I’m headed out today instead of tomorrow. I think you both should have a quiet day alone. I’ve got a cab on the way.”

He reaches over to Sal and shakes his hand. “Stay well, bro, and come home to my sister! And good luck!”

They lean in for a manly hug and a slap on the back. “Thanks, Steve,” Sal says. “I’m glad I got to meet you. I’ll come home, don’t you worry. I love your sister too much to stay away.”

I stand there with a small smile, arms folded at my chest because I’m beginning to feel empty again. My bother looks at me with his worldly eyes.

“You gonna hug me or what?” he jokes.

I close the space between us and give him a big hug around the middle like I used to when we were kids. My big brother, sometimes took the place of our dad for me.

“You don’t have to leave you know. I barely see you as it is,” I murmur into his chest.

“Yes, I do,” he says, patting me on the back. “It’s almost noon and I could tell you guys were not rushing to get up anytime soon. You both need this day together and you don’t need me hanging around. It’ll be all right, Gracie, be strong. You’ve got my cell, so call me anytime–and keep me posted about wedding plans. I’m there for ya, just say the word.”

We walk him to the door just as the cab pulls up. Steve tosses his bags in the trunk. Before he gets in he puts his hand on top of my head and tousles my hair, which is already messed.

              He and Sal give each other nods and one more handshake.

“Okay, talk to ya both soon,” he says as he gets in the cab.

I wait till it’s out of sight. And then he was gone.

We stay in each other’s arms till the sun fades out and shadows of the evening move across the bedroom.

“Pop didn’t call today. Should we have checked in on him?” I ask.

Sal snorts a laugh. “No, I’m pretty sure your brother and Pop planned this together last night so we’d have this day alone. I have a little time in the morning to go see him.”

“I don’t think I can take this,” I whisper. “I feel sick–like I’m gonna die without you.”

Sal holds me tighter, squeezing his arms around me. “I know the feeling. And I’m so sorry. Will you promise me something? Please,
please
, take care of yourself. I’m not even gone yet and you’re not eating normally–and I know you won’t sleep. The thought of you out on the balcony in the middle of the night crying or worrying is killing me. I need you to be strong, Princess. We’ve got plans when I get back, right? Trust me, I’m coming back.”

“I’ll try,” I say, knowing courage isn’t exactly my strongest quality. “But I can’t help what I’m feeling–something terrible is going to happen.”

“Shhh… I love you, Gracie.” He cradles and caresses me, touching my whole body as if to memorize me inch by inch.

*       *       *

A cold rainy gray morning dawns, and as soon as my eyes are open, my stomach clenches and a lump forms in my throat. Sal is leaving this morning.

The all too familiar anxiety attack builds and I sit up as though urged by a cattle prod. As I’m gasping for breath, Sal wakes and grabs my arms.

“Gracie, what’s wrong? What is it? Did you dream?”

“No…” I choke. “Panic… can’t.. breathe…”

“Shhh…okay, okay,” Sal says in a soothing voice. “Look at me,” he begs, taking my face in his hands. “Look at me, Gracie. Breathe.” We inhale and exhale together, eyes connected.

“Again, breathe… Good….” He kisses my forehead. “Better?”

I shake my head and will the tears back. This is hard enough on him and at this rate I won’t even be able to see him off. I clear my throat and force a smile. “I’m going to be okay. It’s just this fear is suffocating sometimes. I don’t want you to leave, God knows I don’t, but I know why you have to go. I’ll have to learn to deal with this.”

He sits down in front of me wiping at his own eyes with the palms of his hands. “Gracie, It’s hard to leave you especially knowing how these dreams of yours have got you scared. I don’t know what to say or do to ease your mind.”

He raises his voice to make a point and grips my shoulders. “I PROMISE YOU I’M COMING BACK!”

*       *       *

After Sal got back from talking to Pop, he went to the garage and put a tarp over the Beast and one over his motorcycle. He met Gracie in the foyer and handed the keys to her.

“If I’m not back in less then a month, just start up the Viper every now and then and gently rev the engine. I know you don’t drive a stick–I’ll teach you when I return.

He gave her a smile. Her sadness was so deep, so consuming that he thought his heart might break and for a moment, he wondered if Pop hadn’t been right. Maybe he should never have fallen for Gracie…but then, like now, it was never a choice. It was the path he was on and he had no regrets. He could only pray that Gracie didn’t regret it once he was out of sight.

He cleared his throat. “I left Lou’s number for you–he is at your beck and call for anything you need. You understand? Capisci?”

She nodded with a small smile.

“Maybe he can take the beast out for a spin and keep her warm for me. He’ll be close by. I’m gonna go grab my stuff. Be right back.”

Sal went up the stairs. He took a good look around the bedroom. Smelled the air – the scent that was Gracie. He looked at the bed where they’d made love so often just in the past twenty-four hours. His clothes, hanging in her closet. That view through the French doors to the balcony.

He grabbed his duffle bag, went back downstairs and placed it by the front door.

“The cab should be here soon. Come here.” He held his arms out for her and they stood in the doorway in each other’s arms, kissing goodbye.

Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as she clutched the wool of his sweater in her fists. The cab pulled up and honked. Toby barked and went out the door.

“This is my ride, Princess,” Sal whispered. “Be a good girl for me, take care of Toby and Pop. I love you.”

He walked out and gave Toby a good scratching. “Take care of her for me, buddy. I’ll see you soon.” He opened the cab door and looked back at her, gave her a nod and got in the car.

As the taxi slowly pulled away, Sal mouthed the words,
I love you
and he watched her struggle to give him a brave smile. Toby stood close by her side. As they turned the bend in the drive, he faced forward and put on his game face.

He was soldier first, a man second. But by the grace of God, this time he’d keep that promise to Gracie. He’d do his part to make sure of it.

*       *       *

After Sal leaves, I got back in the house, I slam and lock the door and collapse on the floor in a pool of tears. I’m not sure that I won’t die of this ache in my heart. Toby wraps himself around me and I hold him, soaking his fur. After a moment I decide to go back to bed.

I wake to the sound of my cell ringing. I check the clock–I had a four hour nap. Reaching for my phone, my heart skips.

“Sal?” I squeak, my throat horribly dry.

“Hey, Princess. What are you doing? I miss you already.”

“Sal,” I begin to cry and then stop. I will try to be brave for at least 2 minutes. I’ll have myself a big ole pity party later, as Celine would say.

“Gracie, I’m sorry.” He sighs. “I just wanted to hear your voice. I landed a little while ago and in a few minutes I go right into briefing so, I won’t have any contact with you or anyone for a while.”

Well, that reality is my undoing. “Oh god, Sal. Please stay alive. Come home to me,” I wail.

“Please don’t cry, Gracie…I promise you it’s gonna be all right. I gotta go now, Princess–they’re calling me up. Try to relax, babe. I love you.”

“I love you too,” I sniff. “I’m going to be okay. Just come home as soon as you can.”

“I will…Love you.” And the line went dead.

I sit there in bed staring out at nothing, my mind working over time. Have I ever loved anyone this much? It takes a nanosecond to realize the answer is no. What Sal and I have is a firestorm that has been ignited through time and will never burn out.

*       *       *

“Agent Petroni! Nice to have you back. You’re looking well.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m feeling well,” Sal answered his supervisor. They shook hands and Sal took a seat at the briefing table among the other agents assigned for the mission.

“Retirement suits you–or is it a woman? His supervisor chuckled. “We heard you went and finally got yourself engaged. Congratulations! When’s the big day?”

“We a…We haven’t set a date yet. I’m sure she’s waiting till I get home to make a decision.” Sal gave him a small smile.

“I verified you to the police and got you cleared of the situation in Jacksonville.”

“Yes, thank you sir.” Sal says. “The police there know some of my back round so they didn’t question me much, but I knew they would have to follow through. They seemed pleased I took out one of their local scumbags. It would have been nice to question him though.”

“He was a threat, You had to do what had to be done. Okay, Shall we begin gentlemen? Let’s get down to business.”

He tried to get comfortable in the cold, stark conference room as the supervisor, Carl, talked about options and passed out files. Concentration was hard because his heart was back in Florida.

The night before, he’d barely slept. He hated that he’d had to remove his civilian clothes and take a shower, because Gracie’s scent lingered on his skin, on his sweater. He could still feel her soft smooth lips and the taste of her. He felt her body in his arms like a phantom. 

When the meeting finished and he returned to his hotel room, he tried to get his head into work but all he could think about was Gracie.

Getting up to stretch, he eyed the sweater he’d had on the day before. He grabbed it and held it to his face, inhaling her in.

He’d never loved anyone as much or as completely as he did her. He’d come back this time–or as many times as it took, to give her a lifetime of happiness.

*       *       *

“GOOD LORD, GRACIE! Have you been in this bed for three days? You called in sick at work. And seriously, when was the last time you showered, for heaven’s sake? I do hope you got my messages, though now I suspect you didn’t.”

“Yes, you said you’d be here as soon as you could. I don’t need anything. Leave me alone, Celine,” I moan. “I just need some time. I feel sick.”

“Well, you
are
sick. No food, dehydrated, and baby, you smell. So…” She snaps her fingers at me. “Come on, get up. You don’t want to go to work fine, but you
will
take a shower, even if I have to hose you down myself.”

I get up against my will, and head for the bathroom. I hear Celine fumbling with the bed.

“DON’T TOUCH THE SHEETS!” I yell and she jumps.

“Jesus, Gracie, what the hell is wrong with you? You just about gave me a heart attack!”

“Don’t change my sheets,” I repeat more calmly. “I’ll do it when I’m ready to do it.”

“Why? Let me help you,” she insists. “You can’t sleep on these anymore….”

“I smell him,” I say, cutting her off.

“You what?” Celine looks puzzled.

“I can still smell him, don’t take it away…don’t take it....” I crack as my tears begin again. “He’s on the pillow, on the sheets...I can smell him. I don’t want to forget…”

Celine’s eyes grow wide. She puts down the blanket and calmly comes over to me. “Baby girl,” she breathes out, “oh my poor, baby girl.”

She holds me as I cry, my eyes now so swollen it hurts to blink them.

“Gracie, listen to me, you can’t continue this behavior darlin’. It’s not healthy. Listen to me now,” she demands. “You are going to march in that shower and I am going to change your bed sheets. Then you are going to call Dr. Brooks and go find that psychic’s number. Taking some action is going to make you feel better about all this.”

I protest but Celine wins the laundry detail. She does agree to leave Sal’s pillow alone, but, for only one more week.

I shower and call Dr. Brooks. After hearing what’s happened since our last visit, he wants me to come right down–he has the afternoon open. Celine volunteers to drive me, and within the hour I’m in his office.

“Gracie,” Dr. Brooks greets me. “Come in, come in.”

If my appearance shocks him, he doesn’t let it show, but I know I’m not looking anything like a human being. That’s okay because I don’t feel very human, either.

I turn to Celine, then back to the Doctor. “Can she come in with me?”

He smiles. “I don’t mind if you don’t. Support is always good to have.”

We follow Dr. Brooks into his little office and sit across from him in front of his desk.

“So Gracie, how were the holidays for you and Sal?”

“They were wonderful, Dr. Brooks. We got engaged,” I say, holding up my left hand.

“Yes, that’s great news indeed,” he says, smiling. “I knew he was going to ask you I just didn’t know when.” His smile fades a bit. “So, Sal is away again, on a mission? Correct?”

I bow my head and nod.

“You said on the phone you’re having bad feelings. Have you dreamt anything? Or is it more like a premonition?”

“More like a premonition,” I answer. “I haven’t really been sleeping sound enough to dream, but I did dream once of water or the ocean–it was cold–and I couldn’t swim–I was tired or something–it was all very fuzzy.”

“When did you have this dream?”

“While we were in Napa at Christmas.”

Dr. Brooks cocks his head. “So what was that, about three weeks ago, you would say? And nothing since?”

“No nothing since, but, like I said, I’m not sleeping soundly. I have feelings of terror. You know, like what I’ve dreamt about. I fear for Sal’s life. How can I not? In every life, he always leaves me, promises he will come back, but it always ends tragically.”

“Okay, Gracie, I comprehend why this is so emotional for you– believe me, I really do. The situation is very complicated and unique. I understand your feelings of fear, because of the past lives. But that being said, the things that are put in place now, may cause the future to change. In other words, Sal and you are, in a way, more aware of the circumstances surrounding your bonds to each other. So both of you might change decisions subconsciously, thus creating a different outcome.”

I look at Dr. Brooks and scrunch my eyebrows. “So you think there’s a chance Sal might make a choice because he is more aware of a danger and not put himself in its way?”