Consequences of the Heart

Chapter 1

Quinn's POV

What does the word love actually mean? For the younger generation it is an overused word that is used describe almost anything, for that romantic couple that have been together for what seems like forever the word love means someone that is loyal and not going anywhere, for the college kids the word love means someone becoming the center of your world during the first test of a real relationship,and everyone I ask has a different option on what that tiny but powerful word means to them.

When it comes to me that word is one of those things that define us a people and it creates certain moments in our lives that last until the death. There was a time in my life when the word love seemed so simple to define as facing any obstacles, knowing what makes the other person happy, trust and commitment, and letting your guard down revealing every imperfection to the person that holds your heart.

That has all changed for me now because after everything that has happened to me I know that love isn't as simple as I once thought, love is something that on one hand is the most purest and most beautiful thing in the world but on the other hand love can also create some of the most painful consequences that you will ever deal with in your life.

Suddenly the sound of loud thunder cracking wakes me and brings me back to my reality as I sit up covering my naked body with my white sheets and purple comforter trying to catch my breath and listen to the raging thunderstorm that is going on outside. I almost jump out of my skin when lighting flashes out of my window and I feel someone else moving in my bed, "It's okay Marshmallow, it's only me." Brenton says as he sits up in the bed making sure that his naked lower half is covered. "Sorry, I guess I am still in shock that I came home yesterday and you were just sitting there like you never left." Brenton sighs moving himself behind me and placing a small kiss on my cheek.

"I am right here and I am not going anywhere." Brenton says nestling his face into my shoulder while I gently I run my hand over his tattoos. "I am sorry if I woke you up, you know how I get with thunderstorms." Brenton picks his head up and even with him sitting behind me I can feel the smile on his face as the wind whips and hollows outside my window. "You have nothing to apologize for, I wasn't sleeping much anyways, and besides." Brenton lays back down in the bed then gently pulls me down on top of him.

"Is that going to become a normal thing with you? Because if it is then you need to remember that I am someone that loves their sleep." Brenton laughs as I place my hands on the tattoo of the Roman Numerals of the date that him and I met that is on his chest. "I remember everything which includes certain things that you would wish that I would forget." I smile down at him tucking a strain of my icy blonde hair behind my ear. "I still can't get over this whole makeover that happened while I was gone." The mention of the makeover suddenly brings up some memories of Nick but before I can allow myself to fall into that I push the memories and the thoughts completely out of my mind focusing all my attention on the man that I love.

"It is getting really bad out there." I say turning my attention to look out of the window, "I can think of something that we could do that would take your mind of the thunderstorm." Brenton places his hands on each one of my hips and starts rocking them side to side. "We can't do that right now Brenton." Brenton leans upward and starts kissing my neck getting a soft moan to escape my lips. "That is no such word as can't." He mumbles moving his lips from my neck down to my breast. "As much as I want this to matter, I think we need to hold off." I say and it takes all my will power to pull away from him as he looks at me with a pissed off look in his eyes that kind of remind me of Nick.

"Unless you want to wake up my dad who is an overprotective police officer is right downstairs or my grandmother who is right below us and has the hearing of a nervous deer during hunting season." I laugh as I get off of him and lay down next to him cuddling up to him and placing my head on his chest. "You have no idea how much I missed this."Brenton chest rises and falls slowly as he wraps his arms around me giving me a kiss on the head. "I think you missed this just as much as I did." I take a deep breath just loving the face that Brenton was home now but in the back of my mind there is still those lingering thoughts of Nick.

"Babe?What was it like over where you were at?" I ask looking up at him wanting to really know what Brenton went through. Brenton just stares at me for the longest time without answering me. "It was strange at first being in a new place that was very far away from home but after about a week or so you got used to it." I know that Brenton never talks about what really happens because he wants to protect me but I also can feel a large disconnect from him when the subject is brought up.

"You can tell me anything Brenton." Brenton nods his head with a serious look on his face. "I know that Quinn, but also you need to know is that I am alive, safe, and like I said in my letter I never had to step foot into a combat zone." I open my mouth to say something but Brenton cuts me off before any words can leave my lips. 

"There are just somethings that I would rather not talk about or wish that I could forget at times." Brenton kisses my head again. "Let's get some sleep, we have my welcome back party tonight, and we need to well rested." I sigh closing my eyes as the sound of Brenton's heartbeat is like the perfect white noise to drown out the monster thunderstorm going on outside and to get me right to sleep.