Semper Fi (An Erotic Romance) Read online

  “I’m afraid it’s a fact Ma’am. Logan McNarry.” His hand reached out in invitation to mine. I put my tiny hand inside his fist and allowed it to be moved. With hands that size you really don’t have an option other than to go with whatever movement it makes. But my mind was still plowing ahead at a zillion miles per hour. There’d been a scandal a few years back, involving his reckless son. I’d been in high school and we’d discussed it in my current affairs class. I couldn’t remember the details, but the girl involved was a striking blond and she’d been killed in an accident. A car I was sure, Senator McNarry’s son was at the wheel. It’d been after a party, a college graduation party. I recall my teacher making a big deal out of noting that this kind of tragedy happens when kids get too wild at graduation parties. It was his lame way of saying for us to be careful at our upcoming high school graduation.

  “Well I can see you’re putting two and two together, so I’ll just go back here and catch a few winks.” He seemed disappointed and stood to rearrange his belongings to the other row of seats.

  “Wait!” I said, grabbing the loose fabric of his camouflage pants and looked up into his face. His eyes were almost painfully green. Less than two percent of all humans have green eyes and I’d bet his were a shade that were one of a kind. I was caught speechless as he stood and stared down at me. I felt small, infantile even against his size. My voice shook a bit, “No don’t go. I mean we’re both stuck here all night. Might as well make a party of it.”

  “You sure?” I’m nationally known as a woman killer and all.” His face showed a permanent scar of emotion.

  I smiled the sweet southern smile my mother had taught me so carefully. “Seriously, sit down before you give me an altitude headache.”

  He laughed and returned my smile as he sat down. “So you know who I am. Everyone knows who I am, but I am at a loss…”

  “Oh! Mattie Steinburg.” I said pointing at my chest as though he needed sign language to confirm that it was me.

  “Ah, a Jewish princess! What an honor!” he teased.

  “Not very.”

  “Not very much Jewish, or Princess?” he queried.

  “Not much of either. Mom was Methodist, so the entire Jewish thing went out the window the first Christmas. Dad makes sure we know we aren’t princesses on a regular basis.”

  “You say we as if there were more than one of you.” His cologne wafted across the aisle to my seat.

  “Actually, there are three of me.” I said waiting for the inevitable jokes.

  “Three of you? Either you have a personality disorder, or you’re a triplet?”

  I retorted, “Since you’re the one with the knife, I’m almost afraid to deny the personality disorder… but that’s not the case.”

  “Triplets?” he groaned.

  “Afraid so.” I droned awaiting the normal every man’s dream comments.

  He leaned forward, cutting off the light from the airport windows altogether, “Well I bet you are the prettiest.” His cologne made me dizzy as he practically whispered into my ear.

  My skin crawled with his closeness. This was a dangerous man on all accounts, yet somehow at the moment I wanted to jump in his lap and feel the scruff of his face pressing into mine. “I bet you say that to all the girls,” I said flatly trying to hide the thrill I felt.

  He laughed boyishly, “Afraid my job doesn’t allow for much fraternization with the opposite sex. As you can tell by my awkwardness, that’s probably a good thing.” His eyebrows rose in hopes that I would strongly disagree. “But let’s not stay so shallow here; tell me about you, Mattie.”

  Chapter 2

  The pounding of the rain and wind against the airport windows provided the back drop for our conversation. I filled him in on my argument with Travis, complained about having three sisters, and listened with jealousy as he described being raised an only child. By the time I checked the time on my phone it was well after midnight. Logan stretched and yawned. “Think I’m going to walk outside and smoke. Feel like walking with me?”

  “Sure, why not. It looks like the storm has moved on.” I stood and mimicked his stretch. “Wish we could leave our stuff here though,” I murmured.

  “Hmm…well we could leave it behind the ticket counter. I haven’t seen another human being in here for hours. Let’s see.” He stepped to the small ticket counter at the entrance to the boarding door and peeked beneath it. “Yeah, look we can stash our stuff right here for a bit.”

  I followed him and stuck my backpack on the empty shelves behind the ticket counter. I covered both of our bags with my blanket before deciding that they were fairly secure. “Okay that’s fine.” I stood up in front of him; I hadn’t noticed he was so close. It was instantly clear to me just how large he was; my face only met his broad chest. He was twice my size in width and at least a foot and a half taller than me. It was startling. Travis pretty much matched me in height and weight, but he was looking rather weenie-ish right now altogether. Suddenly I felt awkward and small next to Logan.

  “Let’s roll.” He put his hand on my back to lead me toward the security gate. His hand covered me from shoulder to shoulder. Mildly my mind humored, if his hands were that big, wonder what the rest of him was like?

  Fatherly Security Guard was sitting alone beside the metal detector. “You all coming back?” He asked as we passed him.

  “Yes sir, just going for a smoke,” Logan smiled with respect.

  “Alright. Well, I’ll still need your ticket when you come back through, stupid as that sounds right now.” His caring eyes intentionally scanned the empty airport.

  I felt my back pocket; the folded ticket was in its place. Logan tapped his breast pocket, “It’s right here sir.”

  “Good job Marine.” The middle aged guard nodded once at Logan as we strolled on.

  “Marine?” I asked with a tinge of a smile. “Don’t you guys have titles in the Marines? Like maybe you’re a Captain, Colonel, Lieutenant or something?”

  “In my unit we don’t have the pleasure of using titles,” he smirked.

  “What do you call one another then?” I asked playing along.

  “Oh things like Logan, Ryan, Steve, Jose, and so forth,” he laughed heartily.

  I could tell from the way he spoke their names that these individuals were important to him.

  The double glass doors to exit the airport opened automatically as we approached. Logan already had his cigarette and lighter in his hand ready for action. As the doors closed behind us he lit his smoke. We had a banter going between us. If I hadn’t sensed his honesty and good nature already I would have been irritated with his teasing by now. I had three sisters, two like me, and another younger sister; I was not fond of teasing. Somehow Logan made his jokes seem as though they were more reminiscent of love taps. As though it was his indirect way of flirting, it never occurred to me that perhaps he had no idea how to flirt with a woman.

  A yellow cab flew through the covered walkway where we were standing. Just as it passed us it hit an endless puddle of water left there by the weakening hurricane. As if in slow motion I saw the wave of water springing to life, heaving itself towards us. I was whisked into the air suddenly; my breath caught in my lungs as arms of steel grabbed me and pulled me up and close. His body turned against the flying water instantly, I remained perfectly dry. That is except for my hands which were now firmly wrapped around the back of Logan’s thick neck.

  “Whoa!” I yelled in alarm.

  Water splashed heavily onto his back. I could feel the freezing rain quickly seep into my fingers.

  “Damn that’s cold!” he chuckled.

  His face was so close to mine that I could feel the heat from his breath. My fingers tightened around the back of his neck in refusal of being put back down. It was exciting to be pressed against his chest. The tiny hairs beneath his shirt provided a cushion between us as our eyes met hotly for the first time. Astounded I realized he wanted me, a growing rod of interest pressed against my
thigh. How could he want me? We barely knew one another! Our faces were mere inches apart as he continued to hold me to him. The water that dripped from his back was ignored as we stared into one another’s eyes. Steam from his body warmed me; his scent covered me and infused itself into my nostrils.

  I saw a conscious decision being made, some struggle that was going on within him. Then his head tilted towards mine and his lips pressed against mine. I had no choice, not that I’d have chosen otherwise but he held me like a toy as his tongue pressed into my willing mouth. My mouth opened, allowing him entrance, but his hunger was overwhelming. I pulled away using my hands against his shoulders.

  He held steady, I expected him to drop me like the dud that I was but he held me close. “I’m so sorry Mattie!” His gaze left my face and dropped to my neckline. “It’s just that… oh hell, I don’t know what I was thinking.” He lowered me to the ground against my will. “I’m just so sorry.” Again he looked down, away from my gaze.

  “No! No! Don’t be sorry!” I grabbed his hands to comfort him. He looked humiliated and sad at the same time.

  “You think I’m desperate, don’t you? I mean, here I am picking up women stranded in airports.” He laughed although he was near tears. “Ridiculous I know. We’ve only known each other for a few hours, but I feel like you were always supposed to be with me,” he rambled. “After Leila, I just didn’t want another woman… until now.” Logan motioned for us to go back inside but I wasn’t going to let this go quite so fast. He refused to look at me now. I reached up and pulled down on the collar of his shirt to get his attention, to make him look at me.

  “You’re telling me you haven’t been with a woman in over four years?” It was most likely stretching the truth, but that is the way he’d presented it so I wanted to know.

  His face reddened like a schoolboy at the chalkboard with a sudden raging hard on. I’d hit a serious nerve. Still I waited. “Things moved fast I guess. I joined the Marines, got fucking shot, spent a year in the hospital then was transferred to RECON. I haven’t even been in country much, so how was I supposed to meet anyone?”

  I stared at him intently, “You went to a country with no women?”

  He laughed, “Basically,” his lips smirked at the truth of his remark.

  I continued to hold him close to me, pulling his shirt so that he could hear me. I’m sure that to others it looked like I was reprimanding him with devastating realities. “Well then I should be honest too. I pulled away because I was scared. I’ve never been kissed like that before.”

  I let go of his shirt and waited for his answer. There was an awkwardly long silence. “But certainly… you said you’ve been with what’s his name for seven and a half years. You have to have kissed him by now.”

  I stood steadfast in his glare, “What’s his name and I had a very intimate relationship, but… oh hell Logan, I never felt anything like that. It just scared me, that’s all.”

  He stood and stared at me for a moment then lowered his head to mine, “My fault entirely. Let me try again?”

  I watched timidly as his face lowered to mine, his lips pressed tenderly against my own. His hands held my face like he was holding a precious golden egg and being oh so careful not to endanger it. He was cautious, his lips gently caressing mine, his tongue tracing the outline of them as if he was memorizing each crease. Only our lips were touching yet I could feel the heat from his body pouring through me. His tongue pried my mouth open as his fingers wrapped themselves into my wind strewn hair. Warmth permeated me as I lost complete control under his kiss. I recognized that I was still inside my body but I felt like we’d somehow merged together. The only thing that I was in need of right now was him, the feel of his tongue inside my mouth, the feel of his hands on my scalp. My senses were overwhelmed yet my body dared them to move an inch. I wrapped my arms around his soaking shirt; his waist was slim and firm. He was a real man, now I saw it, that’s why I resisted him. It wasn’t that I’d never been kissed; I’d just never been kissed by a man. As his tongue swirled through me I melted once and for all into him completely. Finally he pulled away, “Better?”

  I was speechless. Anyone who has ever known me would say it was a miracle. I simply nodded and followed him into the airport without a sound allowing him to lead me wherever. His arms surrounded my shoulders keeping me close to him as we walked in silence back towards our gate. Finally my voice returned, “Think I’m going to use the restroom.” I pointed to the sign on the wall just before the security gate.

  “Want me to come in with you?” he said, his smile was devious yet hopeful.

  I chuckled and shook my head, “No, I got this.” I left him with a smirk.

  I scanned my face in the wall mirror. I looked like hell but I wasn’t willing to mess up whatever it was that I had going for me. If he was attracted to me looking like this I couldn’t help but hope he’d get to see me dressed decently one day. Of course I’d only planned to see Travis today not…well whatever it was I was doing, so I hadn’t put much care into my apparel.

  My phone buzzed again as I was peeing. Again it was Travis. I ignored the call. It wouldn’t hurt him to suffer. My smart phone indicated that he’d called eighteen times. Maybe he regretted our late night conversation. Probably so, we’d been together for seven and a half years, and although a formal proposal hadn’t been made, both of our mothers had ‘boards’ on Pinterest showing wedding ideas. That gave me an idea.

  Quickly, I googled Logan McNarry on my smartphone. A list of information came forward including photos. One of the pictures had been taken at his father’s funeral only yesterday. I shivered a bit seeing him in his dress uniform. When I’d originally seen the news, the story had chilled me. Now, knowing Logan it affected me even more deeply. Several articles described the accident that had killed his fiancée Leila Johnson, Great Grand-daughter to the former President of the United States. One even showed a picture of the mangled Mercedes. But those were old stories; the more current articles were just simple inclusions in articles about his father. There was one photo that caught my eye. It was Logan in a hospital bed with his father posing beside him. The heading was “Senator McNarry’s Son Receives Purple Heart.” Impressive, I mulled and closed the browser on my phone. I’ve sure led a dull and boring life compared to him!

  I shoved the phone back into my pocket and double checked myself in the mirror. My hair was a rat’s nest. I had no clue what he was doing hanging out with me.

  Logan waited patiently outside the restroom door. “Beautiful,” he commented as I walked towards him. I frowned and rolled my eyes.

  “You know, if you keep rolling your eyes like that they’re going to stick like that one day. Then I’ll be stuck with a cross eyed woman.”

  “Funny,” I commented as we walked towards the security guard. Logan took my hand; I felt the immense heat from his body next to mine.

  Fatherly Security Guard smiled broadly as we approached, “Glad to see you kids making friends.” He stepped to the conveyer belt to take our metal objects.

  I dropped my cell phone into the gray bucket he shifted towards me and waited as Logan began unloading his pockets. The contents amazed me. An iPhone, the small pocket knife, wallet embroidered with the Marine logo, a ring of keys, a granola bar and a relatively dangerous looking gun. “A gun?” My mouth dropped open. “How are you carrying a gun on a plane?”

  The Security Guard and Logan both stared at me as though I was dimwitted. Logan pulled me through the metal detector. “Oh you know, protect and serve business.”

  “That’s right ma’am. The Marine is authorized to carry a weapon.” The security guard smiled respectfully at Logan, “Alright! Well you kids have fun.” He pushed the bucket towards us and we retrieved our belongings.

  I didn’t miss the transaction there; the Security Guard winked at him.

  Chapter 3

  We both studied the screens just before our Gate; the morning plane was still on schedule. Of course that was many
hours away. The wind and rain outside continued but it didn’t seem as powerful as it’d been a few hours ago. Logan muttered, “Still showing we’re leaving in the morning.”

  “Yep,” I responded as we found our seats at the Gate waiting area. I watched as Logan walked behind the ticket counter and confirmed that our bags were still safe and sound. He was a masterpiece of bulging muscles. I just marveled at him. I could literally sit and watch him walk all day long. Even I had to admit my good fortune today. It sure had started out crappy, but minute by minute it was getting more and more intriguing.

  I fumbled awkwardly with my phone before shutting it down and sliding it into my pocket. The constant buzzing from it was getting on my nerves. Travis wouldn’t let up; he just kept calling and texting. I was in no mood to listen to him or otherwise hear anything he had to say. It made me feel devious and powerful to let his messages go unanswered. The prick deserved to be ignored. Maybe he thought I was out taking advantage of his “free pass!” I humored. As Logan lowered himself into the seat next to me Travis was swept from my mind.

  Suddenly it felt hot in here. I tugged at my sweatshirt and pulled it over my head. I’d only worn a tank top beneath it. Logan watched me intently as my hair fell from its binding and fell down my back, my cleavage was now in full view. “You’re gawking rudely, Logan.” I noted.

  “Sorry, I uh… Oh hell.” His hand slithered around my neck and pulled me to him. Again our lips met; a renewed passion spread from his body to mine. Electricity flowed between us, sparks of light spread across my closed eyes as his tongue explored my mouth. His paws left my neck and reached below me, and with one easy scoop I was sitting in his lap. I felt small cuddled against his broad chest. Hadn’t I just imagined myself in this exact position? Even the thought of being in Logan’s arms had seemed like cheating a few hours ago. Now my body was in full mutiny. I couldn’t move. Not because of his strong hold, but because I had no interest in being anywhere else.