Page 45 of Pound

She watched as tears formed in his eyes and wiped them away as they fell. Pound said nothing, he didn’t need to. His heart spoke through his tears.

They dressed in silence.

When she saw a jar of scrap metal on the dresser, curiosity got the best of her. Joe caught her examining it and took it from her hands, holding it up to the light. Turning the jar so little glints formed and cast out.

“You like it?”

“How can I like it? I don’t know what it is.”

Pound smiled, that smile that stole her breath away. “It’s our wedding rings. As soon as I drop it off to be melted down, that is.”

“Okaaay, now I’m really confused. It looks like a bunch of scrap metal. Maybe some screws?”

“That’s exactly what it is.” He tossed it cheerily and caught it before handing it back to her. “A pound of it, to be exact.”

Meri shook her head and set it down.

“Exactly one pound,” he said slowly.

She knew it was significant. The puzzle pieces were there, but her brain was moving too slowly to fit them together.

“My scars.” He pointed to the marks she knew were under his clothing. Mostly on his legs, some on his torso. “When the IED exploded, the shit went everywhere, but a pound of it went into me. That’s what they removed.”

Pound.

A pound of metal.

It all made sense now. The significance of their rings being made from what could’ve killed him was massive.

She threw her arms around his neck. “Perfect. And more precious than platinum.”

Their kiss turned heated. She felt his body responding to hers. “If we don’t head down now, I’m going to fuck you against the door until you scream down the walls.”

As she pulled away, she couldn’t resist teasing him. “You mean pound?”

“What?”

“Pound. As in pound me? I always thought that was how you got your road name.”

She watched him roll his eyes before he smacked her ass.

“Quit playing around, woman, and get your ass downstairs.”

“Yes, Pound.”

They were laughing as they descended the stairs. When they entered the common area, it looked abandoned still. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her sweetly. He pulled away to utter, “Back atcha, Mrs. Blackwell,” before ravishing her mouth.

Even though it had been several minutes since she had spoken her vow to him, Meri knew exactly what he meant, what he was responding to. She was about to shed tears over it too, when a snarky voice pierced their bubble of bliss.

“Wow, so your dick was just in my mouth, what, four days ago, and now you’re all wrapped up in that?”

They broke apart. Meri was still processing dick in my mouth, but the girl was still talking.

“I thought you didn’t kiss?” She crossed her arms over her barely covered tits, looking at Pound before turning her dark gaze on Meri. “And aren’t you a little old to be hanging around here? These men like their women young and tight, not—”

“Don’t say another fucking word, Molly, or you’ll be out on your ass.”

Pound turned back her way, and Meri realized the minute his brain caught up to the dick-in-the-mouth comment too, because his eyes went impossibly wide. Rage rose up as his eyes took on a hard, icy glint. When he spun, Meri grabbed his hand, lacing her fingers with his. She’d just vowed to not shut him out when hurt, and the woman’s words damn sure hurt.

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