Wilde Love (Forever Wilde 6)

“I, uh, I like it when you take charge, Major,” I admitted softly. “Then I don’t have to decide or… or worry. I trust you.”

Major’s eyes drifted closed, and he blew out a slow breath. “Christ what you do to me. The things you say.”

I slid a hand down from his hair to feel his cheek. “Will you take me to your bed, Weston? I want to know what it’s like.”

He opened his eyes to study me. “To be with a man?”

I shook my head and pressed my lips to his simply to feel the contradictory softness of his lips and roughness of the surrounding stubble. I let my lips trail over his slowly. It was the first time I’d been the one to make the move.

“To be with you. To be with my man.”

Wes reached for my hand and led me across the small living room down the hall to his bedroom door. For as much time as I’d spent hanging out with him in the old foreman’s house, I’d never been in the bedroom. The space wasn’t large, but it was very tidy and sparse, the way I’d imagine Major would keep any personal space of his. A large bed took up most of the room, and a simple chest of drawers held a plastic tray on which lay a few personal items I was surprised to recognize. A wooden hairbrush with a chip out of one corner. A set of dog tags on their chain. A tiny picture frame with the photo of his sister that he’d shown me that night in the jungle. Besides those three things, there was very little of importance in his living quarters, and it made me feel an odd combination of sad and angry. I wanted more for him.

My parents had been right. He deserved a bigger life.

Major’s hands landed on my shoulder and his lips on the back of my neck. “What are you thinking?”

“I want you to have everything you’ve ever wanted,” I said softly.

He turned me around and lifted my chin with the back of his index finger. There wasn’t a single line of stress on his face, and he looked more at ease than I’d ever seen him. Major huffed out a low laugh. “You have no idea, do you?”

The dimple that rarely appeared was distracting, and his denim-blue eyes were truly beautiful. “Hm?”

“You are everything I’ve ever wanted. You. And now you’re here in my bedroom. Even if you let me hold you fully clothed above the bedspread, I would consider myself the luckiest man on earth tonight.”

“You deserve more than a half-broken widower who doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing,” I muttered, reaching out to straighten the collar of his shirt. It was only then I realized he’d dressed up for me. He wore a rust and cream checked button-down shirt tucked into pressed chino trousers. “God, you look nice. I’m sorry, I should have said that earlier. Only I don’t normally notice what you’re wearing, you know? I should though. You’re… you’re really nice-looking. I’ve always thought that. Is that weird? Do other men say things like that to each other?”

I looked up at him in an embarrassed panic.

Major’s callused thumb brushed lightly along my jaw. His lips widened into an affectionate smile. “Doc, you can say anything you want to me. You already know that. And right now you need to stop worrying so much. I have an idea if you’re willing to humor me.”

“Okay. Yes. Tell me what to do.” I stepped closer and laid my forehead on his chest, wrapping my arms loosely around his waist. “I feel so stupid.”

He dropped a kiss on the top of my head and stepped back out of my embrace. “Go into the kitchen and make us a couple of screwdrivers. You know where everything is. Before you bring them back in here, I want you to take a shot of vodka, okay?”

I couldn’t help but grin at him. “Screwdrivers are my favorite.”

Major’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, I know. Now git.” He smacked my ass and moved toward the bed. I tried not to think about what he was doing or planning. Instead, I followed the orders like a good little soldier, taking the shot first thing and gasping as the sharpness hit my throat and nose. By the time I had the ice cubes cracked and out of the tray to add to the tall drinks, I was already feeling a little looser. Major Marian was a smart man.

I returned to the bedroom to find him stretched out on the bed still fully clothed with the exception of his bare feet. His hands were clasped behind his head, and his gaze sent a shiver through me.

I handed him one of the drinks. “Does it bother you that I still call you Major instead of Lieutenant Colonel?” I asked.