He turned toward the bedroom and blinked, then stepped further inside the room. “LOGAN!” There it was again. Logan lifted his hand, searching for a wall to find a light switch. He flipped it on, then flinched.
Susan laid on her back with a man on top of her, but this man was not Logan. This man thrust against Susan and her back arched. The sounds of lust and passion exuded from her entire body.
The man glanced over to Logan. “She longed for the touch of a man. She longed for the attention you neglected to show her.”
Logan shook his head. He knew this and yet, he still watched in agony as she shared her body with another man. Susan glanced at him and smiled. She reached for him and spoke his name again.
“Logan…”
“FUCK!” Logan suddenly sat up in bed, sweat having beaded on his forehead. He wiped his hand down his face and worked to catch his breath. It became routine to dream of war, but he had not dreamed of Susan since he discovered her infidelity.
Why now? Because I shared shit with Miranda? Fuck this. He rolled out of bed and headed toward the bathroom, putting the dream and distress out of his mind.
Logan approached the Black Hawk helicopter as the pilot started the engines. He recognized the pilot immediately: Brody. The man put on the headset and his mouth moved as he spoke to the operator. Brody nodded then chuckled a few times.
He removed the headset then stepped out of the Black Hawk and looked around. He grinned.
“Well, if it isn’t a fine morning. Today, ladies, we’re storming a building. Be ready because we’re dropping you in by rope.” Brody grinned then made eye contact with Logan. He nodded.
Logan chuckled. “Ladies?” he whispered under his breath.
Moments later, everyone had boarded the Black Hawk, strapped in, and waited for the command. The rotor blades chopped against the air and the helicopter lifted. Last time Logan was in one of these, he was tied up, simulating an enemy capture. This time, he was storming the enemy territory. He glanced over the men surrounding him. Logan had been selected as leader in this simulation and he was ready, he felt it. He knew he would lead his unit into battle; even if it was a planned simulation.
They reached their destination. Ropes dropped from the Black Hawk as they hovered over the top of the building. One by one, the soldiers slid down and landed on the roof. Logan was next. He hefted his tactical vest and readied his weapons on his thighs.
“Logan, you’re up!” yelled Brody.
Logan glanced over to his friend and nodded, grabbed the rope, then slid ‘til his feet hit the ground. He heard his own heartbeat, as it sounded along with the rhythm of the rotor blades. He swallowed and pulled his rifle to his chest, then ran after the soldiers before him.
Pressing his back against one of the outer walls, Logan faced the back, as the three other man in his rotation took the sides and front. He waited for the telltale sign of move in, the tap that ran from the front man, to the rear.
And he felt it, the tap on his arm. The four men moved forward and the sound of the flash bang went off. Logan pulled his rifle around and followed the three others inside.
Guns fired, another flash bang was thrown, more shots, until all fell silent. One prisoner had been taken hostage. Of course he was one of their own, but in today’s simulation, he was the enemy. The man was tied against a wooden chair; arms and legs strapped to it, his upper body also strapped and he had been blindfolded.
Logan approached the man and gripped his cheeks. He squeezed them without being gentle, warranting nothing in return. He tilted the man’s face upwards, then slowly, pulled his Beretta M9 from the holster. He pressed it against the man’s temple.
“Talk,” is all Logan muttered.
The man shook his head back and forth.
“TALK!”
Again, he shook his head. Logan released the man’s cheeks, turned off the safety, and readied the chamber of his gun.
Logan took a few steps back. His Beretta had been loaded with stun bullets, but his captive enemy did not know this. When the gun fired, it would sound like the real bullet casing being released. When it hit the body, it would hurt like hell, but it would do no damage other than pain.
“I’m going to count to ten. If you do not answer me by then, you will die. Understood?”
Logan gave the man an opportunity to speak, but he remained silent.
“One. Two. Three,” he aimed his gun to the man’s left knee and shot. The man screamed in pain. He shot the right knee a second later. The man tried to bend over but couldn’t. He continued to yell as Logan picked up his counting.
“Four. Five. Six,” Logan fired a shot to the man’s left shoulder. He screamed again and shook his head. He had begun to pant and sweat ran from his forehead.
“Seven. Eight. Nine,” Logan fired a shot to the man’s other shoulder, then to his left thigh. The man screamed again and began to flail in the chair.
“STOP!” the man screamed. “STOP, FUCKING STOP!”
Logan put the safety on his Beretta and stepped a few paces closer to the captive soldier. “Talk.”
“Give me a fucking minute, you fuck twat! Goddammit, you fucking shot me!”
“I said, talk,” Logan growled as he gripped the man’s shot shoulder. No blood was present, but a bruise? Hell yes, there would be a bruise. Logan pressed down on it and the man seethed.
“ALL RIGHT! I’ll fucking talk!” The captive soldier began telling where the other enemies were hidden, where the unit could find the hostages, and where the main point of contact for the terrorist could be found.
Logan shook his head. “Damn shame you gave up, man.” He stood and pulled his Beretta out and pressed it against his temple. “I should put you down for giving in that easily.”
“This is a simulation, man!”
“And?” Logan replied. “What if it were not a simulation? What if this were real life? What if it were you being held captive in enemy territory? Would you have given us all up to save your precious body from mutilation?”
“Fuck no!” he cried. “I would never…”
“Then why now? Why are you giving us up now?” He pushed away from the man and shook his head. Pushing his Beretta back into his thigh holster, “Distraction is key. Show no weakness. Never give a reason to be weak.”
Logan walked out of the simulation building and leaned against the outer wall. He closed his eyes and tuned out the sounds of the other soldiers, the captive who’s now pissed, and the sounds of the rotor blades from the Black Hawk from his mind. He focused on his breathing and heard only the beat of his pulse in his ears. At least until Sterling joined him outside.
He had not seen the man since the night he was put into the drunk tank after fucking his woman in the bathroom. Logan still thought he did Sterling a favor by breaking them up. She was no good for him. Perfect for Logan; love’em and leave’em.
“Dude, you all right?” Sterling asked as he leaned against the wall.
Logan glanced over and gave him the once over. “Yeah, why?” He looked away and pushed off the wall. Intent on walking away, Sterling caught up.
“Listen, about the other night…”
“What about it?” Logan asked. “You still pissed I fucked your girl?”
“No.”
Logan stopped and turned to face him. “No?”
Sterling shook his head. “If she that easily put out for you, who’s to say who else she put out for.” He shrugged. “Bro’s before ho’s.”
Logan stared at him for a moment, then chuckled. “You seriously just said that?”
Sterling shrugged. “Yep. How about it? Let’s hit the bar tonight and drink this shit right. Hell of a show in there, but I doubt the captive would agree.”
“Maybe,” Logan glanced down, “but don’t bring anyone this time. I won’t be held responsible for anything that may occur.”
Sterling chuckled. “Consider it done. I’m not bringing anyone. Tonight, if anything, I’ll be bringing someone home.”
Logan grinned. “Now that sounds doable.” He lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked back to Sterling. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry.”
Sterling shook his head. “Water under the bridge. She wasn’t right for me. Maybe under me, but not for me.”
Logan chuckled. “True that.” He glanced over to the building and motioned it with an upnod. “So, he all right in there?”
Sterling nodded. “He will be. I’d stay out of the path of least resistance though, just for a few days.”
“Least resistance?” Logan grinned.
With a chuckle, Sterling clapped Logan’s back. “Let’s get back to the barracks and clean up. The bar waits for no man.”
Chapter Fourteen
The atmosphere was alive and the smell of alcohol was ever present. Logan grinned as he stepped inside the bar. The place was filled with soldiers dressed down in fatigues while others were only civilians. Logan knew the male civilians, in a military base jurisdiction, did not stand a chance of a second glance once the women found out they were not in the military.
The women that frequented the bars close to the base looked for one of two things: a man in uniform, and a man possibly going on deployment. They knew they would get a one-night stand and chances are, it would be the best fuck of their life. The women who came to these bars knew this and made no play to deny it.
Tonight Logan wore a button down black dress shirt and left the top two buttons undone. His chest had shown just above the second button and his pectoral muscles were on display, if just slightly. His denim jeans were snug and hugged against his ass. He knew he looked good and it was only a matter of time before a piece of arm candy clung to his side, whispering naughty thoughts of what she could do to his manhood.
He approached the bar and ordered a beer. Tipping it to his mouth, he took a long pull. Setting it back down, laughter erupted in the distance from a few women. He wiped the foam from his mouth and glanced toward the laughter…then did a double take.
“Miranda?” he whispered her named and stared at the familiar profile across the way. From what he could tell, she had not realized he was at this bar also. Miranda Lockheart was there, and damn did she look good enough to eat.
She wore a black cocktail dress that hung to her knees. The back of it dipped to her mid-back and her spine exposed made Logan’s mouth salivate with need. He wanted to run his tongue along her back, from her neck to her ass.
As she sidestepped, a full frontal provided a view and damn, she did not disappoint. The front of the dress crossed over his breasts and enhanced the view. Her breasts were perky and more than anything, he wanted to suck on each of them, squeeze them, douse her tits with lube and fuck them. The dress hugged her waist and fit her like a glove.
“Damn, she’s fucking hot,” Sterling mumbled next to Logan.
Logan nodded. “Fuck yeah, she is. And I know her.”
“Seriously? Introduce me,” Sterling said. “I need to get to know her, too.”
“No, she’s off limits.”
“What? Why?” Sterling asked as he took a pull on his beer, his eyes not leaving Miranda’s body.
“Because she’s…she’s a friend. I can’t and I won’t.” Logan turned his back to Miranda. “Leave her alone.”
“Your loss, man,” Sterling told him. “She’s hot and she’d hurt you in a good way.”
Logan chuckled. “Fuck yeah, she would.”
A moment later, Sterling left his side when he found another woman. Logan grinned and shook his head as he took another pull on his beer.
“Logan?”
He suddenly held his breath. Slowing setting his beer down, he closed his eyes. Recognizing the voice, he had planned to leave her alone tonight, but it was obvious that was not the case now. He put on a smile and turned to face Miranda. Logan stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and smiled.
“Miranda. I didn’t realize you came here,” he told her.
“Well, one of my girlfriends wanted to come and now, well as you can see,” she pointed in the direction to where Logan saw her earlier. The woman she pointed to had her arms around a guy and their mouths pressed together. “She’s busy examining his mouth…sort of.” She laughed to her own joke.
Logan chuckled. “I see that.” He sighed. He wanted a night out to forget about everything; Susan, the training simulation, and Miranda. One of the three were here in his face instead. I’m going to regret this, he told himself. “Would you like to join me?”
She nodded with a smile. “Thank you.” Miranda took a seat and crossed her legs. “So, come here often?”
He sat down and grinned. “Actually, yes, I do. But if you’re trying to use that as a pick up line, you need to work on your game.”
She laughed. “Oh, is that so?”
He nodded. “Yeah, it is.” He took a pull on his beer and noticed her empty cocktail glass. “What are you drinking?”
“Oh,” she toyed the ice cubes for a moment with her fingertip. “I think I’m done. Water would be fine.”
“Afraid to let go and have fun?”
She did not look to Logan when he asked her that. She was silent for a moment and he wondered if he went too far. “Yes, and no.”
He was not expecting a yes, but appreciated her honesty. “Okay, do tell. Inquiring minds want to know.” When Miranda looked to Logan, he waggled his brows. She giggled and shook her head.
“There’s not much to tell, really. I don’t like letting go to where I have no control. I want to know what is happening around me at all times and not put myself into a situation I cannot get out of.”
Logan nodded and appreciated her honesty, again. “Well, you’re with me tonight. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
She smiled. “I appreciate that, but I’m not your responsibility.”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter if you are or not. I would never let anyone take advantage of a woman who is…indisposed,” he teased.
She grinned at his joking and shook her head. “I appreciate that. You’re a good man, Logan.”
He lowered his gaze and cleared his throat. “I disagree with that assessment, but for now, I’ll let it go.”
“Why would you disagree with me? You just said--”
“You think you know me, but you don’t. Let’s not go down that path and leave it for our chat sessions, okay?”
She nodded slowly, then continued. “All right, I’m sorry if I pried or anything. It wasn’t intentional.”
“I know,” he told her and took another pull on his beer. “Please, have another drink. You’ll be in good hands.” More than anything, he wanted her to be in his hands. He wanted to hold her, touch her, taste her and eventually, fuck her. Miranda exuded sex appeal and he would be lying if he said she did not have an effect on him.
She nodded and asked the bartender for a vodka tonic. Logan laid down money for her and she smiled. “That was not necessary.”
He shrugged. “You’re in my company so it’s my dime. Too bad.” He winked.
She grinned then took the drink and sipped it. “Thank you. You look nice tonight, by the way.”
He smiled. “You look quite hot yourself.” He grinned as blush raced to her cheeks.
“Thank you,” she said in a lowered voice. “May I ask you something?” Logan nodded. “It may be on the lines of our chat sessions though.”
“If it is, and I’m not comfortable answering, I’ll tell you not now. How’s that?” He took a pull of his beer.
“Okay. What goes through your mind when you’re drinking or when taking someone home with you? Do you feel you’re escaping reality, if just for a moment?”
Logan chocked slightly on the drink of beer he ingested.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry!”
He shook his head. “No, it’s okay, I’m fine. I wasn’t…well I wasn’t expecting a question like that.”
“Is that okay? If I’m prying again, we can wait--”
“No,” he st
opped her from backpedaling. “This one, yeah this one is okay to ask and I’ll tell you why. My mantra is, if I cannot hear…more-less think…I won’t remember anything. Distraction is key. Show no weakness. Never give a reason to be weak.
“If I choose not to remember, if I choose not to be weak, then I’ll continue to move forward and my own reality will not haunt me.”
Miranda was silent for a moment, then slowly, she began to nod. “I can see where this mantra of yours can play a role in just about everything you do.”
“How’s that?” he asked as he tilted his head slightly.
“War zone, firing upon your enemies, the women in the bar…”
He nodded and looked to the ground. “Yeah, you’ve got me there.”
“Logan, we can talk more on this if you like, next time we meet.”
“Sure,” he offered as he stood. The music rhythm in the bar changed and he held his hand out. “But first, we’re here to have fun, right?”
She looked to his hand, then back to him and nodded. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m not much on my feet as a dancer, but no one never doubted me for trying. Let’s go.”
Her brows lifted in surprise. “I’m not sure that’s such a great idea. I mean--”
“Nonsense,” he leaned in. “Dance with me, Miranda. I promise to step on your toes.”
She stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter. “How can I deny that?” She placed her hand in his and Logan pulled her onto the floor. The song playing was a recent hit by a popular R&B artist. Miranda stood in place for a moment and waited for Logan.
He did not disappoint. He either lied about stepping on her toes, or he really did know how to dance. He began to move his hips to the music and when they made eye contact, he winked.
She shook her head with a smile. Logan reached for her hands and pulled her a little closer. Miranda began to move and kept her space in between them.
Logan grinned and as he watched Miranda’s rigid body slowly begin to let go and enjoy herself. She turned away from him, lifted her arms into the air and her body gyrated to the music. Logan slowed his movements and eventually stopped as he watched her.
Field Stripped: 15 Steamy Military Romances Page 37