Semper Fi (An Erotic Romance)

by Laura B. Cooper

  “Holy Hell!” he said as he rose from his chair quickly and raced to my side, kissing me tenderly on the cheek. “Baby you are stunning!”

  I cleaned up well, far from stunning but I was glad to hear he thought so. “Thank you, you look pretty handsome tonight too.” I admired the cut of his expensive shirt and the way it hung on his broad chest. The black silk slacks fell perfectly around his thick thighs. His fingers twisted into my hair. Curls flowed enmasse around my face. “Stunning,” he repeated, guiding me to the sofa and handing me the glass of wine.

  “Just let me finish up a few things and we can have dinner.” He sat back at the heavy desk and resumed his work.

  I sipped the wine as Logan finished whatever paperwork he was doing. “Um, Logan I hate to bring this up.”

  “Then don’t,” he replied sternly, not looking up from his checkbook.

  “I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way.”

  “Alright Mattie, now’s the time you tell me you’re leaving? Is that right?” His voice rimmed with anger as he glared at me from across the room.

  “We both knew I was going to have to go home eventually.”

  Logan hesitated; he stood and paced around the room contemplating. “Mattie, in my mind you are home.”

  There he was again with this strange relationship issue. “Logan, you don’t just meet someone in the airport and run away forever with them.”

  “Why not?” He was obstinate.

  “Because you just don’t. I have to go home. I have classes in the morning!”

  He held up his hand to stop me from going any further. “Alright, alright. I agree we have a good bit to work out. But mark my words Mattie; you WILL be here with me.” He resigned to that fact and sat down next to me. “What time are your classes tomorrow?”

  “My first class is at ten. But that doesn’t change the fact that you seem to think I can just drop my entire life and join yours.”

  He sat silently, despondent. “Listen, I know I must come across too strong, weird even. Obviously I’ve fallen in love at first sight, like in the movies.” He hesitated and I gasped. In love? Oh my God. I needed time to think this through. I needed to talk to my sisters, to Kelly, to Mom and probably Travis. The problem was, as long as I was in the same room as Logan, I never wanted to leave. He may be jumping the gun with his profession of love, but I wasn’t far behind him. What I really wanted to do was crawl into his lap and kiss him, feel his freshly shaved face against mine. No, I didn’t really want to go anywhere at all.

  I placed my hand over his on my arm. “Its okay, Logan. I just need some time to think. I mean we should go slower, don’t you think?” I looked through my eyelashes up at him, “We need to get to know one another better too.”

  He straightened. “Right, about that…”

  “Shh…” I stopped him. “Let’s eat dinner and enjoy tonight, please. Nothing is urgent enough that we absolutely have to hash it out right now.”

  I fell asleep in his arms later as we rested on the sofa in the family room. Gracie had outdone herself with dinner. Prime rib with horseradish and baked potatoes. Sleep was the only option after a meal of that caliber.

  Logan’s hands roaming my skin sent bolts of heat through me. In my dream he was making passionate love to my breasts. My dreams were so real, so vivid lately I perused. But it occurred to me that this dream was especially real. I opened my eyes slowly testing reality against my fantasy. Logan’s eyes met my blurred vision. He was real I thought with relief. The touch of his fingers and lips on my nipples was feverous. Already I was far along on my way to orgasm. But his hands were moving down my stomach and lower. I breathed a deep sigh, it was all too perfect. Certainly no one else on the planet could experience such wholeness. It was a shame this feeling couldn’t be shared with the world, it would make for such a peaceful future.

  Logan’s fingers pinched my clit gently, and then harder, he was building pressure there with each slight movement. He pulled sleekness from my opening spreading the slippery wetness from inside me around my sensitive lower lips. I reeled with the sensations he was sending through me. My hips rocked against him with need. It was too fast I thought hazily, I should hold off, wait for him to be inside me. The thought passed over me and was instantly destroyed. Thick fingers probed inside me now, strumming against the spot that made me wild. My hips threatened to buck against the very fingers that were giving me such pleasure.

  Logan studied my face as he continued pulsing his fingers within me. As much as I tried I couldn’t face him. No man had ever masturbated me in front of him. He was thoroughly interested in watching me come. I understood, I’d loved watching him come in front of me. I loved seeing his head thrown back in ecstasy. As self conscious as his stare made me I met his gaze.

  His fingers continued their song as each miniscule nerve inside me electrified. It was as if an entire elaborate laser show was playing between my thighs. Flashes of light passed over my eyes; sparkles of glittery orbs rose and fell on my vision. His fingers were making even my eyes blurry. I could stand no more, I pushed deeply against his hand, taking his long, thick fingers fully inside me and exactly in the spot I needed them.

  Logan was strong, extremely strong but I suddenly wondered if even he could keep the pressure he had going for much longer. All my force was driven to pushing against his firm hand in short, fast strokes. Suddenly his fingers moved, they curled against the bulb deep within me. My hips lifted from the bed exorcism style as my head lifted from the bed to watch his eyes. I was determined to keep my eyes on his but my orgasm was too strong. He passed from my vision as his spell controlled me. I rode his hand hard until the waves passed into the air. My lower body was quivering now, chilled as the warmth spread all over me. My orgasm subsided slowly, but it held my entire concentration. Finally I opened my eyes, Logan’s met mine.

  “Good God you’re beautiful.” He moaned running his fingers through my hair.

  I laughed at his near ridiculous romantics’.

  “That was incredible Logan.” I whispered breathlessly.

  “Mmm…yes it was!” He rolled on top of me quickly his hardness already finding its way inside my orgasm filled void.

  Chapter 11

  He stood at the door of the town car; the early mist swirled around us lazily. “Text me when you get home.” His eyes were a steamy green this morning. Already I was getting to know his nuances. His eyes were always this color after sex. It was a tale tell sign that I found unnerving.

  “I will.” I tilted my head upwards to feel his lips on mine.

  “Mattie, I’m not kidding. I need to know what’s going on with you.” He kissed me in between words.

  “I promise I will.” As he closed the car door tears filled my eyes. I was grateful for the darkly tinted windows in his Dad’s town car.

  “You ready Miss?” Ronald asked concerned.

  “Yes,” I answered. Logan’s sturdy frame slowly disappeared through the windows. I hadn’t expected to feel this way. Already I was miserable without him. How is it possible for someone you’ve known less than a weekend to illicit such feelings? I was a mess.

  My phone buzzed and I picked it up from the seat beside me.

  Logan: 6:10am Today-I miss you.

  Quickly I typed in a return message: I’m not even at the end of the street yet.

  Logan: 6:11am Today-That’s too far, come back?

  Don’t you have some Marine stuff to do?

  Logan: 6:13am Today-Oh yeah the Marines. I forgot about them.

  Will you forget about me too?

  Logan: 6:17am Today-You’ve got a better chance of seeing God in Kmart.

  I laughed. Ronald watched me intently from the front seat as we passed through morning traffic. “Miss, you have an address I can plug into this GPS other than just Georgetown?”

  I told Ronald my address and sat back thinking through the events of the weekend. Love? How could anyone fall in love so quickly? If I were honest I’d admit that I was
closer to being in love with Logan than I’d ever been with Travis. It was the difference between a school girl crush and Fifty Shades. I chuckled at the thought.

  Ronald looked in his rear view mirror at me and smiled. “Glad to see you in better humor. When do you think you’ll be coming back Ma’am?”

  I thought about it; next weekend would be slammed with studying for finals. “I’m not sure Ronald. Do you know when Logan’s leaving?”

  “I suspect he’ll stick around a few days more, but then he’ll be gone for a while.”

  That hadn’t occurred to me somehow. That he was gone for long periods of time. He didn’t mention any of his missions. He had mentioned some of his friends, co-workers, but not a hint as to what he really did in the Marines. There was a lot I didn’t know about Logan McNarry.

  “Ronald, question. The door next to Logan’s was locked but a light was on. Whose room is that?” I asked to the rear view mirror.

  Ronald didn’t speak for several minutes. “Ma’am that’s something Logan needs to tell you,” he muttered under his breath for the rest of the trip.

  As he pulled away from my apartment building, I wondered if I’d ever know the real truth about Logan McNarry. Who knew maybe he really was Batman.

  A stench came from the hallway as I approached my apartment. Bags of half eaten groceries covered the floor in front of my door. Travis was asleep, camped out right in front of the door. I stepped up beside him. He was pitiful; unshaven, his hair curled all over his head, Cheetos orange around his lips. I had to laugh, albeit quietly. I texted Kelly.

  Open the door please it’s me.

  Kelly: 7:20am Today-How do I know it’s you?

  Look through the peephole, you nut.

  A minute later I heard her feet shuffling behind the door, the lock clicked and she opened the door. The sound and movement rustled Travis from his slumber. He jumped to his feet running his hands through his hair.

  “Oh my God, Mattie!” He grabbed me and pulled me to his chest. Whew, he needed a shower.

  I giggled against him. “Come on in Travis. Get a shower.” He grabbed his bag without hesitation.

  He glared at Kelly as he passed her on the threshold. She mouthed the word, ASSHOLE to me as I followed him inside.

  Kelly returned to the kitchen to finish her pot of coffee. She wasn’t about to leave me unattended with him. Besides the fact that she’d developed a new fresh hatred for him, she basically wanted to hear what went on between us.

  “Mattie I um…” Travis started, but I held my hand up to stop him.

  “Travis, I’m not talking to you until you take a shower,” I muttered, pinching my nose and pointing to the Cheeto parts that clung to his unshaven face.

  He ran his hands over his mottled face. “Yeah, you’re right.” He headed in the direction of my room but stopped midway. “You promise you’ll be here when I get back?” I’d never seen Travis so unsure of himself. On a normal day Travis was the life of the party, he was directly responsible for my sarcasm level. He made me laugh. Now he seemed more like a child who’d gotten lost somehow.

  “I promise.” I was making a lot of promises this morning it seemed.

  Kelly’s eyes followed him into the bedroom and watched as he closed the door behind him. She waited, holding her hand up until she heard the shower running in my bathroom.

  “Where have you been?” She turned on me in a fury.

  I poured myself a cup of coffee, nowhere near as good as Gracie’s but I needed it. “I met a guy.”

  “WHAT!? A guy? Oh this is too good! Tell me everything!”

  “He’s a Marine. His Dad just died and he was here for the funeral. We went sailing… well sort of.” I blushed.

  “Pictures?” Kelly demanded.

  I pulled my phone out and brought up the two photos Logan had let me take. One was of him on the deck of Leila, the other was rather risqué. I showed her the one of him in clothing. Kelly leaned weakly against the refrigerator as she studied his photo. “Damn! That’s one fine Marine.”

  I nodded in agreement. But then she inadvertently (or not) flipped the screen to the next photo. I wasn’t sure she could breathe. Her breath was caught in her throat dangerously. I could see the redness on her cheeks. “Kelly you okay?”

  “I… uh… yeah. I’m fine. That probably wasn’t meant for me to see huh?”

  I shook my head absolutely no. “No it wasn’t.”

  “Can’t say that I regret seeing it. Damn! He’s hot as hell, Mattie!” She shuffled uncomfortably for a minute, waving her hand in front of her face as if she needed more air. “I mean he’s REALLY hot!”

  I nodded again, “I know!”

  “So tell me woman! Did you get in his pants?”

  “Kelly!” I protested.

  “Oh get over it and tell me the dirty details.” Kelly looked like a schoolgirl.

  “I had a very nice weekend, that’s it.” I tortured her.

  “SO not fucking fair!” She complained.

  My phone buzzed. A text message.

  Logan: 7:35am Today-I know you’re home.

  I smiled at the screen and typed.

  Sorry there was a vagrant on my doorstep and Kelly wouldn’t let me in.

  Logan: 7:37am Today-Where is the vagrant now?

  In my shower.

  Logan: 7:38am Today-Mattie please come back to me.

  Kelly gasped over my shoulder as she read the texts. “Oh girl, he’s got it bad.” She moved towards the door to the apartment and started wheeling my pink suitcase out the door.

  “What are you doing?” I chuckled at her hasty movement.

  “Sending you back!” She laughed rolling the heavy suitcase.

  I texted Logan: Kelly’s sending me packing, so I may have to.

  Logan: 7:41am Today-I really like Kelly.

  She really likes you too. Should I worry?

  Logan: 7:43am Today-Semper Fi.

  I frowned at the screen. I had no idea what that meant.

  My bedroom door creaked open; Travis’s head peeked through the opening. “Can I talk to you now?”

  I gave Kelly a look that told her this wasn’t going to be good. But I headed into my bedroom with Travis.

  Chapter 12

  I closed the door snuggly behind me. I knew Kelly would be listening on the other side. I sat down on my unmade bed and waited for him to start.

  “Mattie, I’m not very good at this. Never been the sharpest tool in the shed, but I need to tell you what happened.”

  “Is that really necessary Travis?” Honestly I didn’t want to hear it.

  “I think so.” His thick brown curls swung lazily across his forehead, his brown eyes heavy with concern and something I don’t recall ever having seen before. Was it fear?

  “Okay Trav, tell me.” I shifted on the bed and pulled my knees under me.

  “Mattie it’s worse than you think, worse than I even want to think about.”

  I nodded for him to continue.

  “It was your sister. Marlene,” he clarified. I gasped. This was worse.

  I have three sisters, two of them almost identical to me. But then, as though triplets hadn’t been bad enough, my parents had gone on to have another girl after us. I’d told Travis to keep an eye on her at college, and it seems like he had.

  Travis held his hand up in protest. “No! It’s not what you think. I was at a fraternity party, she’s rushing you know. So she came in with a bunch of girls. I took it as my job to protect her from the idiots. Next thing I know we’re drunk and in my room. She’s kissing me. I guess I was kissing her back. God, she looks so much like you Mattie, I swear I thought it was you.”

  I held my breath as he went on.

  “Nothing happened. I came to my senses and walked her back to her dorm. Nothing at all, Mattie. I swear.”

  “God you’re a fucking asshole,” I moaned.

  “I know! I know Mattie. Please, please baby, I’m begging you. Don’t leave me! It was the dumbest thin
g I’ve ever done in my life. I don’t ever want anyone but you. Marry me Mattie?”

  “What?”

  “Marry me?” I paled when he crawled onto the floor on his knees, in his hand was a perfect diamond surrounded by countless others.

  “Wait!” I held my hand out for a time out. “Let me get this straight and in order. You’re saying, ‘Mattie, I almost slept with your baby sister but please marry me?’”

  Travis was ashamed; this was his answer to our problem though? He nodded, “Please marry me, Mattie?” He held the ring out in mid-air.

  I snatched the ring from his hand, his eyes were hopeful as I scanned the ring. It was amazing; at least twenty diamonds surrounded the center carat. “Where’d you get this?”

  He looked startled, “My Grandma gave it to me before she died. She said I was to give it to you one day.”

  I’d loved Travis’s Grandma; she and I had been fast friends. I’d stood at his side on the day of her funeral. “I guess our parents know about this?”

  He nodded hopefully.

  “Fuck Travis, you told our parents you were proposing?”

  He nodded shamefully.

  “Did it occur to you that considering the circumstances that I might say hell no?”

  Again he looked at the floor. “I hoped you’d forgive me, we have such a history and all.”

  My fury grew within me. “You realize this is the Mount Everest of screw ups, right?”

  Travis sighed and climbed onto the bed beside me. “Baby, I know.”

  “Okay this is what we’re going to do.” I sighed. “We’re all going to be home next week for Election Day. So as far as everyone is concerned, nothing between us has changed. But when we get back, we’ll discuss this further.” He looked confused. “Is that a maybe on the marrying me? I mean I still have a chance right?”

  “It’s a definite on being pissed at you, and a definite on not crushing our parent’s hearts.”

  Travis smoothed back his wet hair; he had the GQ style going full force. Sitting on my bed in nothing but a towel, his sensually shaped body was at its prime. Seeing him like this always made me want to go grab my camera. Then he ruined it all by opening his mouth, “So can I put the ring on you?”