Soul Mates: Perceptions Of Love

By A.J. Bruner

Life is full of coincidences, the good and the bad. You spend all day washing and waxing your car only for it to rain that afternoon. You find a fifty dollar bill only to get a parking ticket an hour later. Is life ironic? Are we all fated to some great destiny? What does life have in store for us? Where does the meaning of life come in and what is it exactly? Darcy is a simple woman. She grew up in a small town with hopes and dreams of a brighter future. Her life shines like the sun when she meets the man of her dreams, but is it really what she thinks it is or has she become confused about life lessons she has learned? Thinking she has it all figured out, her life is about to take a huge turn while she is on her honeymoon with her husband and her new found friend, Cammie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.J. Bruner
• Release date: Dec 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310313660

A.J. Bruner

A.J. grew up in a small town in Indiana. His paternal grandparents lived just south of Detroit and he would spend time there now and again. On the opposite side of the curve, his maternal grandparents lived in "small town, USA". He would often use his imagination to occupy his time. During Junior High he discovered the writings of Margret Weis, Laura and Tracy Hickman and Stephen King. Weis and the Hickmans would paint outlandish fantasy tales about dragons, wizards and elves and on the other side Stephen King would take him to a dark place where things went bump in the night. It wasn't long after this that he began to write his own short stories. It wasn't until he sat down and focused on one topic that he was able to bring readers the first book in the Soul Mates series; Perceptions Of Love. More works have since followed, including Legends of Dragons, which is A.J.'s first trip into fantasy writing of a different kind.

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SOUL MATES: PERCEPTIONS OF LOVE

Copyright© 2013 A.J. Bruner

Published by A.J. Bruner at Smashwords

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9781494847937

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for purchasing this book.

This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to purchase their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer.

Thank you for your support.

DEDICATION

Jeanie & Mom-Thanks for always supporting me.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Chapter 1: Livin’ In Sin

Chapter 2: Separate Ways

Chapter 3: Are You Ready

Chapter 4: Jet Airliner

Chapter 5: Back In The Saddle

Chapter 6: Playing With Girls

Chapter 7: Still The Same

Chapter 8: Crossroads

Chapter 9:Life’s Been Good To Me So Far

Chapter 10: Home Sweet Home

Chapter 11: Should I Stay Or Should I Go

Chapter 12: Don’t You Forget About Me

Chapter 13: Cinnamon Girl

Chapter 14: Feelin’ Alright

Chapter 15: Feel Like Kissin’ Dynamite

Chapter 16: Shake It Up

Chapter 17: Nighttime Is The Right Time

Chapter 18: The Pusher

Chapter 19: Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’

Chapter 20: Love Me Two Times

Chapter 21: Only You Know And I Know

Chapter 22: More Than A Feeling

Chapter 23: Somebody’s Out There

Chapter 24: Eye Of The Tiger

Chapter 25: Takin’ Care Of Business

Chapter 26: Bridge Over Troubled Water

Chapter 27: Feels Like The First Time

Chapter 28: Who’ll Stop The Rain

Chapter 29: What I Like ABout YOu

Chapter 30: Rock You Like A Hurricane

Chapter 31: Love, Reign O’er Me

Chapter 32: Love Hurts

Chapter 33: You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Chapter 34: Take The Long Way Home

Chapter 35: Black Magic Woman

Chapter 36: Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Chapter 37: House Of The Rising Sun

Chapter 38: Don’t Fear The Reaper

Chapter 39: Your Time Is Gonna Come

Chapter 40: Rebel Yell

Chapter 41: Every Breath You Take

Chapter 42: Ready For Love

Chapter 43: Is This Love

Chapter 44: Magic Carpet Ride

Chapter 45: Flirtin’ With Disaster

Chapter 46: Wish You Were Here

Chapter 47: Blue Collar Man

Chapter 48: Roll With The Changes

Chapter 49: Tombstone Shadow

Chapter 50: Listen to The Music

Chapter 51: Behind Blue Eyes

Chapter 52: Excitable Boy

Chapter 53: I Am A Rock

Chapter 54: My Head’s In Mississippi

Chapter 55: Fighting My Way Back

Chapter 56: Surrender

Chapter 57: Wanted, Dead Or Alive

Chapter 58: Hold Your Head Up

Chapter 59: You Can Do Magic

Chapter 60: Fantasy

Chapter 61: Slow Ride

Chapter 62: Piece Of My Heart

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Chapter 1: Livin’ In Sin

It’s been ten years since life has had any meaning. Ten years of what if’s, ten years of wishing, hoping, dreaming. Now all those hopes, dreams, and wishes are about to come true. Mark is thinking all these things while he stands in the mirror adjusting his bow tie and checking his cuffs. Tuxedos. Whose bright idea was it to wear these things to ceremonies like this? Well, all in all, I do look good, but not perfect. Today, everything needs to be perfect, not for me, not for the one hundred and fifty people sitting in the next room, but for her. Today is all about her, he thinks to himself. Mark’s best man and closest friend since childhood, Nate, walks into the room and stares at him in the mirror. You look great, man! Stop fussing. She loves you, you love her and you’re about to show that to everyone in the next room and the rest of the world. Nate said with a huge smile on his face. Mark takes one last look in the mirror and turns towards Nate. You’ve been with me through the worst and the best, brother. You know me better than I know myself. Sometimes I think you conspired with Maggie so Darcy would know me as well as you do. Today, I can think of no other person I’d rather have standing up there with me, besides Darcy. You’re one of the reasons I’m standing here today. Mark said as he gave Nate a huge hug.

Are you sure about this honey? Weren’t you just saying a month ago how happy you and Mark were and this whole ‘marriage’ thing was just a hassle that people who have something to prove go through? Maggie says as she straightens the front of her dress, causing more of her ample cleavage to push upwards. Maggie and Nate have been married for 15 years, but the lust is still very visible in their eyes. They have no children, but continue to live their lives to the fullest. Mark and I should be so lucky in 15 years. You make your own history though, right? Darcy thinks as she turns around to look at Maggie pushing things here and tucking things there. I know what I said Mags, and I was totally unprepared for Mark to ask me. The moment the words left his mouth, I saw our lives playing out like an old home movie from the 70s. First our marriage, then kids, colleges, grandkids, matched burial plots, vacations in warm places, the whole nine yards as they say. In those few seconds I realized what I’d been missing, while our life felt complete, there’s so much more we can add to it. Now is the time. I’m ready. Mark’s ready. Our families are ready, and so are all our friends. For the first time in my life, I’m not worried or afraid of the future, my future is Mark and I’m his. Darcy had tears beginning to well up in her eyes. The two women turn from the room and move to a nearby hallway as Nate and Mark make their way into the church congregation hall.

As the two women are waiting in the hallway each lost in their own thoughts, Maggie is reminded of another day when the events of her life had a major impact on her future. It is silly to think then that it was just a simple, stupid kiss she thought to herself. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Chapter 2: Separate Ways

You need to take responsibility for your actions Margaret Marie her mother screamed at her as Maggie sat on a chair in the kitchen. Good lord, not the responsibility for your actions speech again Maggie thought. She sat there quietly as her mother continued to rant and rave. She was thinking about the boy she had met and consequently kissed seemingly out of the blue. She had been drawn to him right away and had followed him a few blocks down the street before he realized he was being followed. Maggie snapped out of her trance as her mother’s finger moved to within an inch of her face. She had said something about waiting until her father got home, but Maggie didn’t care, she had to find that boy again. It was decided then. She wasn’t going to sit there and wait for her father to get home and continue being lectured by her mother. It was just one kiss! It wasn’t like she took off her clothes and had sex with him! Maggie quickly put a hand over her mouth to cover the smirk that was forcing itself upon her face. Lord knows if her mother saw that and told her father, she’d likely get the belt when he got home. She stared up at her mother trying to look as pitiful as possible. I’m sorry ma, I don’t know what came over me she said quietly. Her mother’s face softened a little and Maggie slid down off the chair and headed in the direction of her room. She wondered if any of those magazines her older brother Jimmy had under his mattress had any insight on handling crazy parents. Probably not she thought, they seemed more focused on showing off a woman’s body and describing sexual adventures than how to deal with one’s parents. She was certain going to confession later that night was going to be part of her punishment. No doubt her father would speak with Father McKenna beforehand so they could decide on the proper penance for her. That seemed terribly unfair. She mounted the steps to go up to her room and glanced back into the kitchen at her mother standing in front of the kitchen sink.

Responsibility for your actions Maggie thought, well I’m not the one that got pregnant at fifteen with no job and no husband. In fact, Maggie was well behind other girls her age. Most of them had done a lot more than just kiss a boy. In two more years, things were only going to get worse for her. Mother Nature had plans for her body she knew. She’d already noticed her hips had changed, but she wasn’t as developed as the other eleven year old girls she knew. She finished climbing the stairs and went into her room to sulk. She had less than forty five minutes to prepare herself to look as distraught and pathetic as possible before her father came home. She wished that Nate boy lived closer; ideas of sneaking out later tonight to go to his house entered her mind. There was a very strong pull towards this boy yanking at her internal compass. She didn’t think she’d be able to ignore that for much longer.

Maggie was thrown back into the present by Darcy’s elbow in her side. She looked over at Darcy and gave her a kiss on the cheek as she moved out of the room. She was thankful she brought a complete change of clothes because thinking about Nate like that had stirred some intense feelings. She had hoped that Nate had paid for his tux and not rented it because she was pretty sure she was just going to rip pieces of it off him immediately after the wedding. Suddenly the images of what happened the night she had put on her Bridesmaids Dress at home for Nate flooded into her mind. She tried to ignore the feeling that was spreading between her thighs. She quietly cursed Nate and smiled as she began walking up the aisle.

Chapter 3: Are You Ready?

This was it Darcy told herself. Why was she so nervous? She and Mark had been together for quite some time now and their lives flowed together like a clear, mountain spring. She briefly wondered if the wedding night would be just like any other night, but she tossed the idea aside. If everything went according to her plans or at least followed them a bit, it would be a honeymoon she and Mark would not soon forget. Surely it wasn’t every day that couples brought a third person with them on their honeymoon, right? Darcy found herself getting a little more excited about the possibilities than she should have because the organ began and it was her turn to walk down the aisle. She stepped into the hallway and her dad beamed a huge grin at her and kissed her forehead as she took his arm in hers.

Mark hadn’t seen Darcy in almost a week now; Nate has been doing his best to keep his mind off that fact with his various Best Man duties. Ten points for Nate and his determination, although he wasn’t much help because he kept talking about the new various things he and Maggie have been trying. Mark wound up picturing Darcy in those situations and discovered that it’s not a good idea to think about those things when you’re being fitted for your tuxedo by a beautiful looking woman. Women shouldn’t work in places like that. Talk about awkward. Sorry, I didn’t mean to point, but my best friend was just telling me about this new thing he and his wife have been doing in bed, and other places, and it’s creating a bit of a problem, Mark thought to himself. Luckily, the nice lady wasn’t bothered by it, but her hands kept creeping closer and closer as she had to check and re-check Mark’s inseam for some reason. Nate just chuckled and shrugged.

Mark looked at his watch; five minutes to go. Everything had to be perfect today. Nate and Mark made their way up the center aisle and stood in front of the priest, who nodded in Mark’s direction. He glanced out towards the upturned faces of their respective friends and families and noticed one person who wasn’t looking in his direction, but rather at the doorway. Mark didn’t have time to ask Nate if he recognized the woman in the fifth row sitting on his side of the church because the Maid of Honor was walking down the aisle and stepped up on the Bride’s side of the priest. Mark looked over at Maggie standing in her spot and thought he was surprised Nate hadn’t jumped on her right there, she was completely stunning. The Wedding March began and everyone’s head turned to the church doorway as Darcy and her father began striding down the aisle. Mark’s heart crept into his throat as he saw how truly gorgeous and radiant Darcy looked. I’m marrying the most beautiful woman in the world today, he thought as they approached the steps in front of him.

The reception was just about the longest party Mark had ever been to. Nate told him after they returned from their Honeymoon that everyone that showed up continued the party along the streets of downtown Chicago, in and out of bars, pubs, and restaurants. There’s nothing like two hundred drunken people stumbling down the streets of