The Long Road Home

by Cheyenne Meadows

  She hopped into the passenger's seat and closed the door.

  "I wanted to get tickets to the theatre, but they were sold out. I did snag some for next weekend, though."

  "Those aren't cheap."

  He shrugged. "Let's hope the production is worth it then." With a lazy grin, he cranked the engine and backed out of the driveway.

  His phone rang. Pulling back into the drive, he palmed his phone and answered. "Hello? Hi, Mom."

  Gwen stared out her window, trying not to eavesdrop on his conversation.

  "Let me ask. Gwen?"

  She turned to look at him.

  "My parents want to come down for a visit this weekend. Would that be a problem?"

  She shook her head. As much as she might want him to herself, she couldn't deny him time with his family. Not when he'd spent so much time away while on duty. "Of course not. They can stay at my house, if they want. I only have the two beds, but I'm sure we'll figure out something."

  He relayed the information, chatted for a bit longer, then hung up. Sliding his phone back into the holder on his belt, he met her gaze. "They're just coming up for the day tomorrow but wanted to have lunch with us."

  The anticipation carried in his tone. Although she understood they didn't part ways on the best of terms a week ago, he held high hopes for this visit.

  "Good. I'd love to meet them."

  Tension eased from his face at her words. Gwen smiled, twined her fingers with his, and squeezed. "Families are always welcome."

  "I know it's a lot of work cooking. If you'd prefer, I'll take us out to eat instead."

  She shook her head, touched at his concern. "Actually, I love to cook. So if you'll step up for KP duty, I'll gladly throw together something decent to eat."

  He shot her a generous smile. "Deal."

  * * * *

  "This is good." Gwen wrapped another long piece of spaghetti around her fork and lifted it to her mouth.

  Logan watched, his arousal kicking up immediately as he saw her soft lips part, accept the food, then close down on the fork. Biting back a moan of need, he shifted in his seat, trying to ease the tightness of his jeans. Who knew eating pasta could be so stimulating?

  Dragging his attention away from his needy erection, he nodded at Gwen. "I remembered this place from college. Always great food and plenty of it."

  "Not to mention affordable to college students." She grinned at him as she lifted the glass of water. "My friends and I ate here quite often because of the student discount."

  "Ditto." He wondered why they never ran into one another outside of dance class. Probably because the campus sported several thousand students, sprawled over a hundred acres, and the surrounding area contained numerous restaurants and businesses aimed at taking advantage of a ready source of buyers. "Do you keep up with those friends?"

  "A couple of them, yeah. One lives fairly close by. We get together now and again. The other lives across the country, but we email often." She set her drink down. "How about you?"

  He shook his head. "Hard to keep up with even family when you're in the military, half a world away." Guess that's something else he'd have time for now, socializing and catching up with people from his past. He repressed a cringe at their reactions to his new disability.

  No sense in getting worked up over how others would respond. They will or they won't react harshly, and nothing would change it. Besides, their opinion didn't matter. Not the way Gwen's did.

  Unwilling to let the morose topic dampen the evening, he quickly switched subjects. "You haven't spoken much about your work this week."

  She chewed, swallowed, then answered. "Not much to say. I do the same tests over and over again." The corners of her mouth curled up. "My job doesn't revolve around a lot of excitement and adventure."

  He grinned back at her. "There's something to be said for stability and routine."

  "Boredom?"

  "Nah. Not unless you're bored already?"

  Her eyes glittered. "With my job, eh. With the date? Absolutely not. With you? Never."

  Her praise soothed his earlier worries and stroked his ego. "Good to know."

  They ate for a couple of minutes in silence. "You mentioned talking to Tyler about becoming a physical therapist."

  He stuffed a large bite of pasta in his mouth and chewed. "I did."

  "And?"

  Grabbing his soda, he took a long drink, washing the food on down. "He told me the ins and outs. Encouraged me to check into a couple of colleges nearby that offer a physical therapy program, see what their requirements entailed."

  "Are you going to?" She chased the last bit of her meal around her plate, then glanced up at him again.

  "Yeah, I think so. I've got to find another career at some point, and our alma mater does offer the degree. I wouldn't have to worry about credits transferring or such."

  "You're going to stay in Bethesda, then?" Hope flashed across her face.

  He caught her excitement, and pieces of his life clicked into place. As much as he wanted to appease her, he couldn't lie and end up dashing her expectations down the road. Honesty really was the best policy. "It depends on my therapy and if I can get back into active duty. Even with the prosthesis, if I can pass the physical exam requirements for the Army, I can be reinstated back into my former position." Worry replaced her enthusiasm. Reaching over the table, he offered his hand. Slowly, she settled her smaller one in his. "You know I dream of returning, fulfilling my duties, to prove that a stupid roadside bomb can't slow me down. If there's any way possible, I'll return to duty and probably be shipped overseas."

  Gwen nodded. "I know that's what you want above anything else. I'll worry about you, but I support you one hundred percent."

  She had no idea how much her words meant to him.

  He squeezed her hand lightly. "Thank you." Sucking in a breath, he searched her face and continued. "I don't know how long I'd stay in the military. Never thought I'd do anything other than be a career soldier. Now, I'm not so sure. At some point in my life, I'll retire from the Army and need a job to fall back on. That's where I figure physical therapy will come into play."

  "So you'll keep the idea on the back burner until you decide to retire from the service?"

  He nodded. "Exactly. There doesn't seem much point in signing up for classes to only attend one semester, then dash off to a war zone for the next few years. It's something I'll probably think about but after this part of my life has ended."

  At least she seemed to understand, even if concern cast shadows across her pretty face. The cross all military families must bear.

  Which brought another question to mind. "Are you willing to wait for me?"

  Her head tilted to the side. "Wait for you?"

  "If I go back on active duty and spend a year at a time away from home, will you be here when I return?" He held his breath and waited for her answer.

  A slow smile appeared on her face. "Logan. Logan. When I said I wanted to give us a try for the long haul, I meant the long haul." She rubbed her thumb over his knuckles. "Don't you see? No matter where you happen to land in your job, I'll still be here, testing those condoms and marking off the days until you return."

  He grinned. She promised to stay the course, and nothing could mean more to him right then.

  Chapter 29

  "Gwen, this is my mother, Tilly. My father, Harold." Logan released them from a hug and turned back to do the introductions.

  Stepping forward, Gwen shook both their hands, smiling brightly. "Nice to meet you both." She gestured toward the living room. "Please come in."

  They followed her and settled in on the couch as Gwen took the smaller loveseat beside Logan. He intertwined his fingers with hers.

  "Logan, you look good." His father noted with a critical eye. "Is this young lady responsible for the grin on your face?"

  "Mostly, yeah." Logan glanced down at her before focusing on his parents again.

  "Tell them about your therapy." Gwen
squeezed his fingers and watched the excitement flare across his face.

  "The head physical therapist, Tyler, gave me an article. It talks about how men just like me, with a prosthesis, have returned to active duty. There have been several of them, and they've done just fine in the field, either returned to their unit or to another assignment more up to their current speed."

  His mother's gaze flicked to Harold, then back to Logan. Her face clouded. "So you can return to war?"

  "Yes."

  "Which is what he's wanted to do since the accident," Harold reminded her.

  "I worry…"

  "I'll worry, too. But look at him." Gwen stared at Logan's face. "Look at his determination, his enthusiasm. Look at how he's physically stronger. Not to mention happier." She turned her head to look at Tilly. "We always worry about those we love, especially when they're deployed. However, you can see what the dream means to him." She paused for a beat, smiling when Logan lifted her hand to his lips. "I'm new to this, but I think you love them for who they are and support them in their dreams. If he wanted to climb mountains or jump out of airplanes, I'd worry, but I'd be there cheering him on."

  "I've already done those things." He grinned at her.

  "Okay. I'd support you if you wanted to ride motorcycles at unbelievable speeds on a dirt track or race cars."

  "Done that too." His voice carried a teasing quality.

  Gwen rolled her eyes dramatically and shook her head. "Is there anything that you haven't done?"

  He chuckled. "A few things. Maybe." The husky timbre of his voice combined with a heated look sent her stomach into a delightful somersault.

  "He always was an adrenaline junkie." Harold turned to face his wife. "I say let him do what makes him happy."

  Tilly's lips curled up at the corners. "I suppose if he can survive those reckless go-kart races as a kid, he can survive just about anything." Her face softened as she gazed at her son. "You have my support. In everything you choose to do."

  A timer dinged cheerfully from the kitchen. Gwen stood, tugging Logan to his feet when she kept hold of his hand. "Lunch is ready."

  She headed toward the kitchen, releasing Logan to dig through a drawer for some hot pads.

  "Thank you." He nuzzled her cheek and kissed her temple.

  "For what?" She blinked at him.

  "For being you."

  Happiness washed over her at his compliment. "Ditto." She stood up on tiptoe to brush her lips across his.

  The kitchen door opened, then closed immediately with no one entering. Gwen laughed. "Think we traumatized them?"

  Logan snorted. "From a kiss? Nah. Now if I stripped you down and proceeded to make sweet love to you on the dinner table, maybe."

  Please do. She inwardly gawked at the image, which surprisingly didn't shock her nearly as much as she would have thought. Logan seemed to have made an impression on her libido, desires, and previously unknown kinkiness.

  She grinned wickedly. "Now that's a fantasy I'll have to dream about tonight."

  Logan groaned.

  The door cracked open far enough to allow Tilly to peek in, check the situation out, then step inside the room. "Do you need some help, dear?"

  Gwen bit her tongue. Oh, boy did she need help. Standing in the kitchen daydreaming about stripping Logan down, laying across the table, and holding on for dear life as Logan showed her the advantages of sex in unusual places.

  "Gwen?"

  She blinked and glanced up at the other woman. "Oh, sorry. I was distracted for a moment. Yes, could you please check the potatoes?"

  She heard a muffled laugh. Let Logan find humor in her rampant horniness now. After all, paybacks were hell. Wickedly, she shot Logan a grin full of promise.

  He lifted an eyebrow, his expression said it all. Bring it on.

  Chapter 30

  Logan stepped from the shower, using the towel to rub his body dry. He'd slept in that morning and just then decided to climb from the warm nest he called a bed. Sundays were meant for laziness, according to his mother. Lately, he'd embraced that very notion, enjoying the simple pleasure of downtime.

  Grabbing a second towel, he headed back to his bed, sat down, and removed his prosthesis. While the dampness didn't hurt the metal device, he needed to keep the sock dry or risk chafing the skin over the amputation. If an ulcer developed in the area, it would be hell to try to heal. He wanted more motion and exercise, not forced rest because he couldn't use his prosthesis until the wound healed again. The very last thing he needed was to have another surgery to the area if the small wound turned into an infected one. All his progress would be for naught, not to mention how much higher they'd have to cut. Dealing with a below the knee amputation was enough for him. Losing more of his leg was out of the question.

  Gently, he patted the area and checked for abrasions before plucking a new clean stump sock from the bed. Just as he rolled the material up, a knock sounded at the door. Automatically, he answered, not even considering his state of undress.

  "Come in."

  "Good morning. I wanted to…" Gwen's words faded as her gaze landed on his nakedness. Her eyes widened even as her tongue darted out to lick over her lips.

  He debated grabbing up the sheet and covering himself, but the look of appreciation and awe on her face stopped him. While her cheeks tinged a pretty pink color, her eyes flickered in sensual appreciation. Desire quickly replaced shock on her expressive face.

  "You wanted to what?" He grinned, waggled his eyebrows, and waited for her to answer.

  They'd danced around the sex issue since reuniting at, first, his apartment, then her home. Sure, they'd shared some dang steamy kisses, even a bit of groping, but always before, they had stopped short of some heavy petting and the actual event. He didn't want to rush her, and she seemed still a bit hesitant, despite their conversations about long-term plans.

  Right then, judging by the longing and avid curiosity pasted on her face, he'd wager she made her decision.

  "Gwen?"

  Her brown eyes met his. "Yes?"

  "What is it you want?" He held his breath.

  "To touch you. All of you." Her words came out a whisper, though no less sincere.

  Heady arousal hit him full force. His cock responded immediately, jumping with excitement as blood left his rational brain and shunted lower. "Then touch me. Wherever you want. However you want."

  Tossing the stump sock aside, he watched as Gwen stepped toward him, her eyes raking his body as she neared. Dressed in loose sweats with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she never looked more desirable or beautiful.

  He watched her chest expand with breath, pulling his attention to her modest breasts, the first place he wanted to get his hands on, learn their shape and weight. From there, he'd spend the rest of his life exploring and enjoying each and every inch of her delightful form, never tiring and always eagerly returning for more.

  "Come over here, sweetheart." He patted the bed beside him. If he sported his prosthesis, he would have stood, but without it, his balance would be challenged. The last thing he needed was to fall on his face on the bedroom floor at such a critical moment.

  She complied, sitting down softly on the mattress before reaching out to lightly brush her fingers over his shoulder, down his left arm, and across his chest. There, she seemed fascinated by his pecs as she circled the area more than once, taking time to rub the flat disc of his nipple until it hardened under her delicate touch.

  He bit back a moan. "That feels so good." The words carried easily in the silent room.

  Her gaze lifted to his, then a small smile appeared. "I'm glad. You're beautiful." With tenderness, she continued her route of discovery, dipping lower over his six pack abdomen, then backtracking to his pecs, as if a magnet drew her attention back each time.

  "Far from it. You're the beautiful one." He set his back teeth and forced himself to stillness. As much as he wanted to return the caresses, he vowed to give her plenty of time to familiarize herself
with his body. Let her play. The pleasurable torture now would only reward them both later on.

  "Not even close." She grew bolder, stared at his jutting arousal, dropped her hand, and encircled him.

  This time, the resulting groan tore from his throat.

  Her gaze flicked between his face and his erection as she first measured him, then used her thumb to graze the tip, spreading the first droplet of dew over the top. His hips bucked as his cock leaked further, pleading for more tactile stimulation. She honored the unspoken request by sliding her hand up and down his shaft, experimenting with different grip snugness and techniques.

  Logan ran multiplication tables through his head. After such a long abstinence, a couple months before his injury, then living in proximity to the woman he wanted, his body was on a hair trigger. Just her touch alone threatened to send him right over the edge. Grappling with his control, he breathed through the moment, only partially successful in dampening his raging need.

  "Let me touch you." The words came out as a hoarse grunt, but she seemed to understand.

  Standing up, she worried her lip for a moment before tugging the shirt over her head. Without pausing, she kicked the pants off in the direction her shirt fell.

  His mouth began to water at the sight of such beauty standing before him in just pink cotton panties and a matching bra. "Gorgeous."

  She smiled at the praise. "You're biased."

  He shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I think you're the prettiest thing I've ever seen, and I'm always right."

  Gwen chuckled. "Who am I to argue then?"

  He reached for her, thrilled when she stepped into his embrace. His nose butted against her cleavage. Taking advantage of the position, he quickly unfastened the front clasp on her bra, shoved the flimsy material aside, and commenced suckling on one raspberry nipple while his free hand cupped the other.

  She gasped, then removed the unwanted bra, tossing it aside, before grasping his head and yanking him closer to her chest. "That's… wonderful." Her breath caught as he switched sides, treating the other orb similarly to the first.