Semper Fi (An Erotic Romance)

by Laura B. Cooper

  Logan shrugged, “Probably.” His face lowered, this wasn’t a fine moment in his life I could see. A man of his caliber and experience wasn’t proud of running from his problems. It was most likely the first time in his life he’d not taken the bull by the horns and wrangled it to the ground. I sensed humiliation and something else. I couldn’t put my hand on it but it had an affinity to fear.

  At the moment he resembled an overgrown little boy. He refused to meet my eyes and aimlessly fumbled to put our semi strewn belongings into order. “Logan, is there anything I can do to help?” I asked in an earnest effort to relieve his anxiety.

  He stopped his movements, his back to me facing our packs which now hung on the large metal stall door. “You wouldn’t want to go to my dad’s house with me, would you?”

  My mind reeled, what did I know about this guy? I mean I’d just met him yesterday. What if he was some ruthless killer who wanted to get me alone to dismantle my body and stuff it in his dad’s freezer? After all he had a knife and a gun. “Logan, I uh… really should be getting on the plane.” I pulled my sweatshirt over my head and slid into my shoes.

  “Yeah, of course,” he said. He sounded deflated. Then he bucked up and instantly stood taller in front of me. “And riding on the plane with all those folks who just saw you being carried naked through the airport should be interesting.” He was plotting and the devilish grin that was starting on his lips gave him away.

  But he was right, no way in Hell’s Kitchen was I getting on that plane. Being murdered by this Chippendale’s Marine was a much better option in my mind. I let out an exasperated breath and snatched the open ticket from his shirt pocket. “Okay, let’s go to Dads.”

  He bent and kissed me again, “Thanks.”

  The stares surrounded us as we exited the women’s restroom. A few applauded, other’s rustled to separate themselves from our humiliation as fast as they could. Logan fiddled with his iPhone, oblivious to it all. I poked him in the arm to get his attention as I walked beside him trying to hide beside his monumental size. “Huh?” he mumbled looking down to catch my irritation.

  “What are you doing?” I whispered for no reason other than to not attract any further attention to us.

  “Well Princess, unless you have a magic carpet in that pack we’re gonna need a ride.” He put the phone in his shirt pocket and threw his duffel bag over his shoulder. He pulled my back pack from my hand and carried it in his other hand.

  We crossed through the double glass doors in front of the airport a few minutes later. Logan sat our bags down and lit a cigarette. I stared at him incredulously. “How can you be so calm?”

  He stared down at me, the wheels in his head visibly spinning. “Damn if that’s not a great question Mattie. Yesterday I was a ball of nerves, like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Today it’s like all my problems just… well they don’t seem to matter anymore.” He shrugged his shoulders and chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?” I was already creating a list of irritations that he caused me.

  “Irony. The irony of it is funny. A couple of years ago I was lying in a hospital bed with a bullet hole in my back and my Dad came to visit me. He told me about the day he met my Mom. She’d come into a hospital room as his nurse to care for him and he knew that very moment that she could fix any problem he had. He told me to keep my eyes peeled because one day my own nurse would show up and everything from there on out would be fine.” His free hand reached down to clear the wisps of hair that were being blown into my face. “You’re my nurse!”

  I reddened at his sentiment, “I can’t properly apply a band-aid. I’m a political science major, remember?”

  He laughed heartily, “That my dear is the irony.” He bent down and picked up our bags as he tossed his cigarette onto the concrete. “I finally got rid of one politician in my life, and now I find another!”

  “Logan, I…” My sentence went unfinished. He seemed far too convinced that I was his Princess waiting. Until yesterday I’d only been with one man in my life and if the buzzing in my pocket was any indication that one man wanted me back… now!

  Chapter 5

  A long black town car was poised in front of us and Logan was presently tossing our bags into the trunk. The elderly driver held his hand out to direct me into the back seat. “Good day miss, name’s Ronald. Consider me the Robin to Logan’s Batman.”

  I put Travis from my mind and shook the man’s outstretched hand with a smile. “Nice to know you Ronald, I’m Mattie.” He nodded and helped me into the car.

  Logan leapt in through the other door and slammed it shut just as Ronald hit the gas. “Damn it Ronald, one of these days you’re gonna take my leg off.”

  The man driving chuckled as he easily maneuvered us out of the airport menagerie of roads. Within a moment it seemed we were on the interstate heading into the heart of the city.

  The buzzing in my pocket started again, I pulled my phone out and scanned the text messages.

  Travis: 5:37pm Yesterday-Mattie please call me.

  Travis: 6:49pm-Yesterday-Mattie I’m SO sorry. Please call me.

  Travis: 9:18pm-Yesterday-Baby please don’t do this, I need you, I love you.

  Travis: 11:50pm Yesterday-I’m begging you, I can’t live without you.

  Travis: 12:01am Today-I don’t WANT to live without you.

  Mom: 12:35am Today-Can you please call Travis so Dad and I can sleep?

  Travis: 1:30am Today-Baby I made a GARGANTUAN mistake but I love you.

  Travis: 1:47am Today-Mattie forgive me, I was lonely, I missed you.

  Travis: 1:48am Today-I’ve never needed anyone else.

  Kelly/Roomie: 2:26am Today-What the hell? That idiot Travis is calling me. You ok?

  Kelly/Roomie: 2:27am Today-BTW I told him you’d found a REAL man. LOL.

  Wow, she sure had hit the nail on the head! I glanced up at Logan who was curiously trying not to let on that he was reading my texts over my shoulder. He smirked at the last text but met my gaze. “I like this Kelly girl a lot.” He mumbled turning his face towards the passing early morning traffic.

  Travis: 3:01am Today-Your roommates a bitch. I’m coming to find you, I need you.

  Travis: 6:02am Today-Boarding the plane now. Please let me in when I get there.

  Well that settled it, I couldn’t go home now. I did the basic math; he’d be landing at the airport in two hours. Eventually I’d have to face him and I knew it. Logan shifted uncomfortably in his seat; I glanced up at him and received a slight smile in return. The responsible thing to do would be to run to Travis and accept his apology. The longer I was with Logan the further that ranked in my thoughts.

  The window between the driver’s seat and us slid open. Ronald looked in the rear view mirror at Logan. “Logan I meant to tell you that Mrs. Johnson stopped by last night. She was sure you’d stay home a few days after the funeral.”

  Logan looked stricken. He slid forward in his seat quickly and leaned into Ronald’s ear. Whatever he was whispering was apparently crucial because in a moment Ronald nodded. “Yes sir, I’ll have Gracie take care of that right now.” The window slid up as Ronald’s phone went to his ear.

  I shot Logan a questioning look. “So we’re onto having secrets already?” I laughed uncomfortably but added a note of seriousness.

  Logan examined me for a minute, “It occurred to me that you’re the first woman I’ve brought home in four years. Having the entire family race over to meet you might make you feel awkward.” At the moment he was the one who seemed to be feeling awkward I mused. On top of that I got the distinct feeling that some crucial information was lacking in his response.

  The car pulled to a stop. I peeked past Logan to the giant brick townhouse. “Whew!” I commented as Logan opened his door. A moment later Ronald was guiding me onto the sidewalk and Logan was getting our bags from the trunk. Just as quickly, Ronald was back in the car speeding off, leaving us staring up at the house.

  In between the
first and second floor were two flags; the American flag and another flag bearing the same Marine Corps emblem that Logan had inked on his chest.

  “Patriotic family,” I commented blandly as Logan climbed the steps to the front door.

  “I’m starving! What about you?” Logan said as he tossed our bags onto a bench in the front hallway.

  “Starving,” I replied but my eyes scanned the rooms. There was an awful lot to look at here, every surface and wall seemed to hold a piece of memorabilia. I was immersed in my own version of political heaven.

  “I really want pizza,” Logan muttered heading down the hallway. “Come on let’s see what we can rustle up.”

  We stepped into the bright kitchen just as the back door opened. “Ya’ll don’t even bother comin’ in here and making a mess,” the large black woman ordered as she was stepping through the door.

  “Gracie! Where are you going?” Logan chuckled as he ran to help her with the door.

  “I’m leavin’. Ronald said you had a guest.” Her deep brown eyes did a full CAT scan of me. “But no worries, I already put a pizza in the oven. It’s done now. I figured you’d want pizza. Don’t ya’ll mess up this kitchen, ya’ hear?” she repeated, nodding at me to verify that I understood. I nodded confirmation.

  Logan kissed her on the cheek and helped her down the back steps.

  “See you later Gracie! Love you.” Logan’s voice rose from the back yard.

  Back in the kitchen he closed the door and smiled, “She’s taken care of us for a long time.”

  “Seems like she knows you pretty well.” I followed him to the oven.

  We ate around the coffee table in the expansive family room. “This is the best pizza I’ve ever had!” I said as I finished my last bite of crust.

  “Mmm,” Logan started. “When Luigi’s closed, Gracie spent a week in the kitchen trying to replicate their pizza. I think she nailed it.”

  I nodded in agreement. “Is that your Mom?” I pointed towards the portrait over the fireplace of a beautiful woman sitting on the deck of a sail boat, the wind blowing in her hair.

  His eyes followed mine, “Yep.” But he offered no further explanation.

  The article I’d read about Senator McNarry’s funeral had said that Logan was his only child but didn’t mention his wife. It was if she disappeared. “Where’s your Mom now?” I took a sip from my coke. It was a brazen question but I was hoping they’d been just divorced and nothing worse.

  Logan’s eyes studied his fourth slice of pizza. “She’s in a place nearby being cared for. After my uh… accident, she developed a problem. Now she has to be cared for twenty four seven.”

  “Oh God Logan I had no idea!” I touched his thigh with my fingers.

  “No, actually it’s good. I just saw her yesterday and she looks mainly just as she did in that portrait.” He waved towards the fireplace. “Getting away from Dad then was the best thing that could’ve happened to her. She’s happy and enjoying her retirement for the most part. She just doesn’t happen to remember me or anyone else she’s known in her life most of the time.”

  “That’s so sad,” I said, my hand still resting on his thigh.

  Logan stood up from the coffee table and held out his hand to me. “Come on, let’s get a shower.” He pulled me up easily.

  Chapter 6

  “Was this your room as a kid?” I asked as he threw our bags onto an unused bed. The room was boyish, plaid, and pictures of boats all around. A few photos on the mantle showed a much younger Logan on a giant sailboat.

  Logan stopped and glanced around the room as if he’d never seen it before. “No, I grew up in Boston. This was Dad’s place in Washington.”

  “So you don’t usually come here?” I smiled timidly as he began unbuttoning his camo shirt.

  He stepped closer to me; the heat from his body instantly warmed me. His shirt was unbuttoned and his chest in the daylight showed his perfection. I touched my fingers to him, feeling the sheer magnitude of his muscular form. He looked down at me, again pushing the wisps of hair out of my face.

  “Usually I am in a third world country with stinky smelly men. Since I have the rare opportunity to be with the most beautiful woman in the world, who is NOT stinky and far from smelly, I’d really rather concentrate on that.” His nose bent and touched the rim of my earlobe sending chills across my neck. He nibbled tenderly around the back of my neck until my knee’s felt like play-doh.

  He stepped back and the rest of his clothes fell in his wake on the way into the bathroom. He stood in front of the shower and deliberately faced me through the open door as he removed his shirt. “Now I’ll be in the shower if you care to join me.” The shirt fell aimlessly to the ground outside the shower.

  Watching him walking into the bathroom was mesmerizing. I couldn’t pry my eyes from his ass and his legs. I just stood there, mouth ajar, in awe of his body. As soon as I heard the shower running I was brought back to reality. This was moving way too fast. I mean, was he short a neuron or something? He acts as if I am here to stay. I just met him last night, and might I add that I was on my way to see my boyfriend of almost eight years. My flight instinct was running on high right now. There was no doubt in my mind that I was charmed, who wouldn’t be with Logan. He’s so hot I’m surprised the guys he works with don’t jump his bones. But I had to control myself, this was a fling, albeit one I’m positive I’ll remember till the day I die. Not many men who look like Logan pay me any attention. In all fairness, I’d been with Travis since I was a kid practically, but I certainly hadn’t caught any other gorgeous men following me around. I looked in the full length mirror in the corner of the room. I didn’t spend a great deal of time on my appearance either. Jeans, sweatshirts, and tank tops were basically all I owned. If I wasn’t wearing one of the above items of clothing then I was wearing my bathing suit or a wetsuit.

  I picked up one of the several photos on the mantle. The same pale green eyes stood out at me from the little boy on the sailboat. I smiled. It was something Logan and I definitely had in common. I’d grown up on the coast, I learned to sail when I was a toddler myself. If it weren’t for sailing, I wouldn’t be at Georgetown. I’d been on the sailing team for four years.

  “Hey! You coming or not?” Logan’s head popped out of the shower door, steam bellowing into the bathroom.

  I dropped my clothes on the floor in a pile and stepped naked into the shower. Logan moved aside to let the water run across my body. The water was hot, very hot, just the way I like it. I opened my eyes and wiped the water from my face. Logan’s hands went to my hair. “Mind if I wash this for you?”

  My hair wasn’t dirty really. It was a curious request. “You like to go around washing women’s hair?”

  His hand went to his own excruciatingly tightly shaved head, “At this point I get turned on by all hair!”

  I laughed as his fingers lathered my scalp. I faced the tile shower wall as he soaped and rinsed. His maleness prodded me in the middle of my back as he worked. Travis had never washed my hair; it wouldn’t occur to him. It honestly hadn’t ever occurred to me either but it was something I was thoroughly enjoying.

  Hands still covered in soap ran across my back, massaging me. I was fairly self conscious of my body. I had larger than normal hips, was too busty in my opinion and my legs and thighs were far too muscular. Usually, the most miserable day of the year for me was the day I had to go bathing suit shopping. The only girls who looked good in the suits in the stores were rail thin, no boobs and no ass. I had far too many curves. But when Logan moved his hands over my wet skin his appreciation showed. The rod in my back was pressing closer and closer.

  His hands went to my shoulders and turned me to face him. He ran them up my neck to my face. Thick fingers pulled dripping strands of hair from my face. “You truly are beautiful.” He said before his lips found mine. His kiss was warm and sensual. My skin prickled under the heat of the water. My arms went around his neck instantaneously. His soul crept thr
ough and into mine again as he kissed me. He lifted me, hands beneath my behind, until he was holding me against him face to face. I wrapped my arms tighter against him holding on. His cock was so hard I could almost use it as a ledge to sit on. Our kiss deepened, my own excitement grew.

  “Come on let’s get out now.” His voice was raspy and shaken.

  He carried me out of the shower, grabbing a towel on our way to the bedroom. We were both dripping wet; the floor behind us was soaked in our trail. Logan didn’t notice, or didn’t care, or both. I started to protest then closed my mouth. He lowered me onto the bed, my knees left bent over the side. He tossed me the towel as he went to his knees in front of me. Thick tanned fingers pushed my thighs apart. I lay silently… waiting. Kisses trailed up my thighs, each inch of skin responded to his touch by sending tingles through me. I caught my breath; his mouth reached my most private parts. I lifted my head to look down at him. He looked up and smiled before his nose and mouth descended into me. This was something Travis hardly ever did; I shivered at the sensations swarming over me. He was gently tugging on the lips that protected my opening. His tongue was like silk against me. Even the scruff on his cheeks and chin seemed to add excitement. I watched the top of his head as he buried his face into my mound.

  Slowly I moved from conscious aware motions to something utterly out of my control. My head was thrown back against the mattress below; my thighs lifted over Logan’s shoulders. They held him to me, in his current position permanently. As he licked the button at the top of my sex, I knew that I couldn’t live without this. His hand moved to the nightstand. Pulling it open he pulled out a gold pack. He peeked at me above my mound, “Size extra large, for future reference.” As he held the foil condom package up for me to see.

  He fitted the condom then rose above me on the bed. His lips went to mine; I could taste myself on him. A form of reassurance mixed with curiosity crossed over me. I was glad to know that I didn’t taste horrible down there, and at the same time wondered what the attraction was. It wasn’t that great, although he seemed to love it. He licked his lips and mine, covering me with my own juices.