AKM Miles Soldier

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.He couldn t seem to get enough of it.Thankfully, therewere two large glasses.He began to feel human again.He put the tray aside and pulled Dillon onto his lap.This time, he put his hands on Dillon s faceand held him still for another kiss.Oh, sweet heaven.Dessert.He wasn t as wild this time, but hetook what he needed and gave back enough to get them through until they could spend some realtime together.He moved his lips over Dillon s face and down to his neck, licking and suckingand tasting Dillon's skin. I know.We need to go to the boys.I know.I just had to have a taste.God, I love you. Soldierwished he had the words to tell Dillon how much the man meant to him.He smiled, thinkingabout how Dillon had taken care of him earlier. I was so scared.I m so thankful it wasn tworse.I ll tell you all the details later.Now, let s see the boys.I bet Gom needs a hug. Oh, yeah.I think I ll bring them in here for a little while, and then we ll all go back over thereand let you sleep. Wish I could hold you while I sleep.But, no, that s later.But soon, dear God, it s got to besoon. I hear you.Get ready.I m gonna bring em in and they ve all been so worried about you.Youmight want to get up on the bed where there s room for everyone.They re all going to have tosee you, touch you, to know that you re really all right, Dillon warned.Soldier was sitting in the middle of the bed when the door opened, and he saw Gom s wet eyesfirst.The little boy leaned just his head in to make sure it was all right.Gom seemed afraid tocome in any farther. I sure could use a hug. Soldier opened his arms.Gom ran and jumped on the bed, sobbing, Soldier, Soldier, Soldier. He couldn t seem to stopsaying it as he covered Soldier s face with kisses.He finally wound down and wrapped his armsaround Soldier s neck, laid his face on Soldier s shoulder and wailed.He cried and cried, greatsobs and scalding tears, hiccups and sniffs.Finally! Soldier cradled Gom and had tears in his own tired eyes as he realized that somethinghad cracked in Gom, and the boy was crying out loud.Safe.Gom knew they were both safe andthat allowed him to let loose.His little hand kept coming up to pat Soldier s face.Soldier looked over and saw that the others were waiting silently.He could tell they wereshocked to hear Gom s sobs, too.They knew there was something wrong when someone cried somuch, but never with any sound.He gestured for them all to come on up.They scrambled ontoSoldier - 122the bed.He reached out to touch each of them.Ben s lip was quivering and Soldier touched itand winked at him. It s okay.I m okay.We re all together.I m tired from working all day, but I ll be fine after anap. God, Soldier loved these kids. What say we all go out for supper at that same buffet wewent to last night? Anybody want to? He was amazed that they were all so quiet.They all nodded and somehow each one managed to touch him in some way, a hand on hisshoulder, a touch on his knee, a rub on his arm.He was their lodestone.They seemed to feelbetter after assuring themselves he was okay.Tommy held back and let the others get theirreassurances.He was very solemn.Soldier looked over at Dillon and nodded to Tommy.Dillonshrugged and started to gather the others up, leaving Soldier with Tommy and Gom. I ll go and let you sleep.You look real tired, Tommy said. Not yet.Gom, baby, will you let me talk to Tommy a minute? Then I m gonna sack out.Thankyou all for being so good in there.I ll be with you in a few hours.I promise.Gom had settled down into sighs and hiccups.He pulled out of Soldier s neck and smiledthrough all those tears.He patted Soldier's face again and leaned to kiss his scarred cheek.Soldier took it as the blessing it was.Gom scrambled down and went with Dillon and the others. What s on your mind, Tommy? Soldier asked quietly. It was him, wasn t it? Tommy said, his head down. I think so.I think I saw him in the back of the yard when I was moving the truck.He left a gascan so we know it was started on purpose. Soldier hated what this was going to do to Tommy. I won t lie to you.If they catch him, he ll go to jail.Maybe her, too, if she helped him. I don t care about them.I m sorry about your house.It s my fault.They re mad at me, 'cause Iwon t go back, and they tried to kill us all, Soldier. Tears were now on Tommy's face, runningin a steady stream. I have to leave.I can t let anything happen 'cause of me.What if.what if.it s all cause of me. He shut down then, just sort of folded his arms around himself and closedhimself off.No way was Soldier allowing that. Hop up here.That s a bunch of crap.You hear me? Don t you even think it s your fault.Maybeit s my fault 'cause I threatened him last night.Maybe I should leave, so you all will be safe.Soldier could see Tommy shake his head, getting ready to say something, but he went on. If youleave, they win.We can t let that happen.You are safer, healthier, happier here than you ve everbeen, right? Yeah, I know.You are not to think it s your fault. He kept having to tell kids thattheir parents were scum, not them.It was a fucked-up world. They re bad people.I m sorry for that, but it certainly isn t your fault.Is it Gom s fault hismother took drugs and hurt him? At Tommy s wide-eyed head shake, Soldier went on, Ofcourse not.Some people are just bad, Tommy, and it s not a child s fault when a parent is bad.Soldier - 123Soldier put his hand on Tommy s shoulder and squeezed. You promise me you won t think ofleaving us.We really couldn t do without you.We love you and need you here to make us all acomplete group.Okay?Tommy nodded and raised his face at last.He looked a little stronger and more settled.Hescooted up a little and raised his arms to Soldier for a hug.Soldier embraced him and hugged him hard. You re such a good, strong boy.We love you,Tommy.It would mean a lot to me if you would sing for us tonight before we go to bed.It s justwhat we need to calm down and settle into being safe and together. Soldier knew Tommyneeded to help in some way, small though it was, to make up for his feeling of responsibility.He d have to find other ways to keep the boy from thinking of leaving. I think we re stayinghere one more night, and then we ll all go out and find what we need tomorrow.I ll need yourhelp. I ll help you.And I ll sing for you all tonight.I.I love you, too, Soldier, I think.I never knewwhat that meant.Love, I mean.Gom says it a lot.But, I think it s what I feel for you all, like Iwouldn t be.right inside without you all.Is that right? Tommy looked to Soldier forconfirmation of his feelings. Just about right [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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