Command Control

One word. No hesitation. Sadie smiled.

He stepped closer, their bodies practically touching now. “I want to be here,” he said, his voice low. “I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon.”

He lifted a hand and brushed a few stands of loose hair away from her eyes. He’d touched her face, but she felt it everywhere. It left her dying to melt into his arms.

She held back. She wanted him to make the first move. But he was crazy if he thought he could get this close again and walk away. She’d had her fill of almost-kisses. Right here, right now, up against the front door, she wanted the real thing. Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his hair, guiding his mouth closer.

“Kiss me,” she demanded.

Logan groaned and the space between them vanished. He raised one hand, holding her head in place. His other hand reached for her hip, drawing her lower body firmly against his. And then, his lips touched hers.

He kissed her slowly as if savoring every sensation. Sadie arched up into him. Every hard muscle in his body pushed up against hers—including the one she was most interested in.

Her fingers held tight, urging him on. He obeyed, kissing her harder, deeper, as if he wanted to stay there all night, which was fine with her as long as they lost the clothes. Running her hands down his neck and over his chest, she reached for the hem of his T-shirt.

Logan pulled back, capturing her wrists in his hands. Breathing heavy, he looked down at her as if that one kiss had blown him away.

Oh, honey, there is so much more.

He took a step back, releasing her. But he didn’t take his eyes off her.

“I guess this means you’re staying,” she said.

“I guess it does.”

Sadie nodded. She wanted more, so much more of the ruggedly handsome soldier, but she didn’t want to rush him. And she was having second thoughts about getting naked on the porch with the sun still peeking above the mountains and the air smelling heavily of cow.

Or maybe that was her? She’d spent the better part of the afternoon sitting in a field.

She reached behind her and turned the knob. Taking his hand, she led him inside. “Ready for that beer I promised you?”

“Sure.”

She could still hear the desire in his voice. Sadie smiled. “Help yourself. I’m going to grab a quick shower first. Wash away the cow pasture smell.”

“I should do the same.” He released her hand and stepped back toward the door.

“Don’t leave.” If he walked out, she wasn’t sure he’d come back. He’d start thinking about what he’d told her and he might change his mind. After that kiss, she wasn’t going to let him escape.

“Sadie, if you’re worried about smelling like the fields, trust me, I’m ten times worse.”

Join me. The words were on the tip of her tongue. But no, he wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

“There are two showers,” she said. “Take the one attached to the spare bedroom. And I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

Before he had a chance to argue, she turned and ran for her bedroom. He better not leave. She’d waited for him to make the first move, claim the first kiss, but now that he had, she planned to seduce him. Drive him wild. She would make damn sure this was a fling neither one of them ever forgot.

* * *

LOGAN TIPPED HIS head back and let the cold water run down his face. He’d waited until he’d heard Sadie turn the shower off in the master bedroom before he’d started the other one. He’d had a hunch there wouldn’t be enough hot water to go around and he’d been right. But he could use a cold rinse right about now.

He’d kissed her. In the moment, he’d felt so goddamn alive. All the noise in his head—his grief, the mistake he’d made on his last mission—it had all faded into the background. For a few precious moments, there had only been Sadie’s hands, her mouth and her body.

He’d felt connected to another person for the first time in months. And he’d wanted to hold on to that feeling. But then she’d started pulling at his T-shirt and alarm bells had gone off in his head.

Sexy-as-hell Sadie wanted things he wasn’t sure he could deliver. After that kiss, he had a hunch he could handle something physical, but nothing more.

From where he stood, Sadie was all bubbling energy, laughter and beauty. She was the first person to hear the word widower and not look at him like he was a lost puppy. But as much as he wanted her, he refused to hurt her. He had to tell her before they went any further that this thing between them couldn’t go anywhere. He’d been honest in the bookstore. Sex, nothing more.