A Soldier's Christmas

“I know.” She cleared her throat. “I can’t believe that you’re really here. That I’m sitting in a truck with you while you touch me, kiss me.”

“I’m struggling with the same emotion, but,” he looked out of the truck window, “unless we go now, we’re going to be snowed in here.”

Emma groaned. “I don’t want that. Let’s go and get snowed in at your B&B instead.” She quickly kissed his lips before settling back into her seat.

Logan laughed, and fastened his seatbelt as he pulled away from her home.

Emma couldn’t take her eyes from him and watched as his hands flexed on the wheel. His eyes were bright as he concentrated on the road in front of him while the snow whirled around the truck in large, thick flurries. She hadn’t lied about wanting to be snowed in with Logan.

“Talk to me, Emma. Tell me how you’ve been.” Logan quickly glanced at her before his concentration turned back to the road.

Emma paused and tried to think of something to say, but her mind was as blank as the landscape outside the truck. She admitted, “I thought if we ever met that I’d have so much to say to you, but the reality is that I’m so overwhelmed to be sitting here with you that nothing comes to mind.” She chuckled. “Oh, it will, and you probably won’t be able to shut me up so enjoy the silence for now.”

Logan smiled. “I know what you mean. I still can’t get over that you recognized me. It was a bad photograph that I sent you.”

Reaching out, Emma placed her hand on his thigh and smiled when he flexed against her touch. She kept her hand on him. “It was your eyes that did it. I’d recognize you anywhere because of them. I felt like it was me that you were focused on when the image was taken.” She shrugged, and did what she’d wanted to do since he’d climbed into his truck—laid her head on his shoulder.

He sighed in pleasure. “If the weather wasn’t so bad, I’d wrap my arm around you.”

“I know. You can do that once we get into town.” She stared out of the window and wondered how he knew where he was going. She lived there and couldn’t make anything out, which is when she thought about her brother. “You know, we might bump into my brother in town. Travis went to pick something up for Dad’s truck. He might get snowed in out there.”

“Is your brother going to be as suspicious as the rest of your family?” He groaned. “Of course he is. He’s your brother, and he’s going to hate having a guy around you.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. He was okay when I dated Seth, but then again, he knew Seth. Everyone did.” She hated how things had ended with Seth because it wasn’t really like her to hurt anyone, and she knew that she’d hurt him. She sighed heavily and snuggled into Logan’s arm.

“A heavy sigh?” He noticed. “What happened between you and Seth? You briefly mentioned him, but never really talked about him. I’m not going to lie though, it was a relief that your letters weren’t filled with another man when I wanted to be…” he trailed off as though he’d said too much.

“To be what?” Emma thought she knew what he’d been about to admit, but she really wanted to hear him say the words.

Her head lifted and her gaze caressed his face. She noticed the slight blush that had crept onto his cheeks. “Tell me, Logan,” she whispered.

There was a comfortable silence between them when he confirmed, “I wanted to be your guy, Emma.”

She felt close to tears again, and was annoyed with herself for acting like a broken faucet. “I wish we were in town so I could hold you, and see your eyes when I admit that I think part of the reason for my failed relationship with Seth was because of you. From the first exchange of our letters, I felt a connection with you that I’ve never felt with anyone before, and when that disappeared six months ago, it broke my heart.”

Emma softly cried into his sleeve as they drove in silence for the rest of the trip into town—both lost in their own thoughts.

By the time Logan pulled up to the B&B, the snow was so thick that sh

e didn’t want to get out of the truck. They were in their own cocoon while the winter storm swirled around them. But they couldn’t stay in the truck all night, as much as Emma didn’t want to face Adele and her interrogation. Greg would just smile if he was around, but Adele wouldn’t let up and give them the privacy they craved.

Logan cut the engine and turned to look at her, his eyes were hot and seemed to look deep inside her as he rested his forehead against hers. “We need to go inside,” he winced, “and probably get past Adele.” He smiled. “I want you in my room. Not for sex,” his smile widened, “but because I want, and need, to hold you and have you where I can see you. I need that to make this feel real so I know I’m not dreaming.”

She heard what he said, but her brain kept repeating ‘not for sex’ and couldn’t get past that or what the thoughts did to her body.

Emma unclipped her seatbelt, and his, before she climbed astride him. His surprise was clear in his eyes and merged with the delight already there. Logan yanked his gloves off and cupped her face in his cool hands as she settled down on his lap. She smiled at the evidence beneath her. “Not for sex, huh?” She grinned, and wiggled around on him.

Logan groaned and moved one hand to her hip to hold her still. “Well, I’m not opposed to sex with you, but what we have is so much deeper than a sexual relationship. I might not have had sex for a hell of a long time, but I didn’t want you to think that sex was all I’m interested in with you.”

She shook her head and caressed his jaw, running her fingers over his lips. Her breath escaped when he opened his mouth and sucked her fingers inside.

“Logan,” she moaned.

He took hold of her wrist and pulled her fingers from his wet mouth. He placed a kiss in her palm and closed her hand around it.

“Let’s go and face the first hurdle, then we’ll be warm and alone.”

“I’m looking forward to that. Just us, Logan.”